19 June 2023 marked the launch of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) 3^rd edition Technical Guidelines with the aim of strengthening Namibia’s capacity to detect, report, confirm, and effectively respond to high-priority communicable and non-communicable diseases in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. 

Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, said that the need for a rapid and integrated response to increasing emerging and re-emerging epidemic-prone diseases and other public health emergencies/events necessitates the adaption  of the IDSR technical guidelines. He said that the guidelines recommend thresholds for action to prioritize diseases, conditions, public health events, and responding to alerts.  These actions are critical in saving lives and preventing suffering. He further said that the launch of the 3^rd IDSR edition will strengthen ongoing activities on the health system making it more resilient to health outbreaks and public health events.  Dr Shangula further implored all healthcare workers in the country to embrace the IDSR 3^rd edition and ensure implementation in both public and private health facilities.   

Dr Mary Brantuo, the WHO Officer In Charge to Namibia stated that the launch of the IDSR 3^rd edition demonstrates the country’s commitment in implementing the African Regional Strategy for Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response (2020-2030), which the African Ministers of Health adopted during the 69^th Regional Committee for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo. This strategy mandated all Member States to implement the IDSR 3^rd edition. She further said that WHO has supported the government through the Ministry of Health and Social Services with the training of 182 health workers on the 3^rd edition of the IDSR.  She committed an additional USD  800,000.00 to support  the implementation of the 3^rd edition IDSR in all 36 health districts.   

The launch of the IDSR  3rd edition is one of the key components within the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Flagship Initiative, Transforming African Surveillance Systems (TASS) flagship project, under the Collaboration   Agreement  signed between WHO and MoHSS on the 5^th of May 2023. Additionally, the launch of the IDSR 3^rd edition is in line with the National Action Plan for Health Security Strategy (NAPHS 2021-2025). 

The 3^rd edition of the IDSR is preceded by the 1^st and 2^nd edition in 2003 and 2011 respectively. 

The IDSR launch event also included an advocacy session with the health stakeholders and developmental partners on their role in implementing the IDSR 3^rd edition. The event was attended by 55 participants in person, and about 50 additional persons attended the event virtually. The event included representatives from MoHSS national directorates, Regional Health Directorates, Namibia Medicine Regulatory Council, private health facilities, academic institutions, National Correctional Services, Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs, WHO and other UN Agencies.