Advancing IDSR implementation in South Africa
The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy is a key initiative adopted by countries across the WHO African Region to strengthen national capacities for the detection, reporting, and rapid response to public health threats in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR (2005). In South Africa, the implementation of the IDSR system plays a vital role in addressing health challenges, including detection and management of communicable disease outbreaks and other public health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in the country’s surveillance system and infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of reinforcing public health intelligence and response architecture. In response, South Africa has taken significant steps toward creating an integrated and cohesive disease surveillance and response system, aligned with its national health priorities. With the generous support of the Government of Canada, WHO has partnered with South Africa’s National Department of Health (NDoH) to assess existing systems, develop a tailored IDSR strategy, and adapt technical guidelines to fit the local context. This collaboration is enhancing South Africa’s ability to detect and resp
