Public health monitoring or surveillance activities comprise the regular collection of health information in terms of health indicators, the routinely analysis of indicators over time, place and between population groups, sharing of available scientific knowledge as well as the regular dissemination of results.
Good quality health information is essential for planning and implementing health policy in all countries. Monitoring and surveillance provide health information in a timely manner so that countries have the information that they need to fight epidemics now or plan for the future. They are fundamental tools for public health.
PAHO supports the production, analysis, and dissemination of country-level data to inform and strengthen public health policy, programs and services. The PAHO NMH surveillance team focuses on the following areas of work:
- Surveillance
- Monitoring
- Reporting
PAHO provides leadership and technical cooperation to Member States by supporting the development and implementation of standard methodologies for data production, analysis and dissemination of products that translate data into action. PAHO supports countries to increase their capacity on surveillance, monitoring, and the use of data to guide policy and decision-making processes.
In order to fulfil PAHO’s mandate to monitor countries’ progress towards the aforementioned targets and commitments, the NMH Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting program conducts periodic assessments.
