Physician Based Sentinel Surveillance System
for emerging Health and Disease Problems in the Caribbean 

Funded by the Info Dev-Division of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The World Bank)

1999 Initiatives

To establish at physicians offices in CAREC member countries a sustainable and replicable Internet based system for the timely surveillance of emerging / re-emerging health and disease problems in the Caribbean. The network will include Ministries of Health and CAREC, and will also be used for continuing medical education.

Goal

To strengthen public health surveillance in the Caribbean and thereby increase the mobilization and use of information for the prevention and control of emerging health and disease problems that threaten the sustainable development of the region.

Objectives

1. To implement a physician based surveillance system using the Internet in at least three CAREC member countries that is easily replicable by the physicians and countries.
   
2. To strengthen the Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP) through the development of a network of physicians who are participating in the surveillance of emerging health and disease conditions .
   
3. To explore and develop private sector collaboration to extend the impact of the project.
   
4. To develop a continuing distance education programme over the Internet in relation to disease control and clinical management of emerging health problems.
   

The initial lists of conditions to be monitored include :-

The network will link key players ( doctors , laboratories and epidemiologists) to improve the quality and use of information for health decision making.

Initial Focus

Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St. Lucia.