Project Abstract
IDI Is responding to Global Healthcare Detection and Response CDC-RFA-CK21-2104. The application consists of three components: the first (Component 1) that focuses on creating and coordinating a network of selected five geographically representative government-owned Regional Referral Hospitals to participate in a CDC-organized global “network of networks” for health care associated infection surveillance. Additionally, this component will detect and respond to emerging antimicrobial resistance in hospitals. This will be accomplished by strengthening infection prevention and control structures within each facility and by supporting Ministry of Health -led Infection Prevention and Control functions for HAI.
The second component (Component 2) focuses on strengthening surveillance structures for HAI. This will entail strengthening laboratory-based detection of antimicrobial resistance in the 5 selected RRHs. Furthermore, this component will strengthen surveillance and Health Information/data systems by integrating AMR surveillance into the ongoing acute febrile illness protocol under the nascent National Integrated Sentinel Surveillance (NISS). In addition, ongoing implementation of surveillance for gonorrhoea in Kampala, will be extended to, and integrated within the NISS.
The third component (Component 3) focusses on strengthening national capacity in government and through partners for infection prevention and control during small and large outbreaks using tested models, tools and strategies aligned to World Health Organization guidelines and adapted by Ministry of Health and IDI, used successfully in recent outbreaks in Uganda.
IDI, the lead applicant is an independent not-for-profit organization established within Makerere University with a solid record of success in infectious diseases programming and of financial integrity. The Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University will provide the highest level of clinical microbiology expertise available in country to support this work.
The project has a high likelihood of success because it builds off IDI’s work and experience in preparedness and response at national and subnational levels over the last 5 years (including the COVID-19 response), with close technical support from CDC and other partners. The project will apply the following core principles; building on existing capacities and country gains in health security made over the last 5 years, selecting a limited number of high impact activities to maximize return-on-investment, using information technology-based platforms to enhance processes and outputs and applying continuous quality improvement methodology to foster a data-driven approach. IDI will collaborate with Ministry of Health and hospital structures to enhance ownership of projects at national and subnational level.
Finally, IDI and its partner will involve a wide range of USG and non-USG, GoU and non-government stakeholders at all levels of the health system (at all stages of project planning, execution, monitoring and learning in order to maximize sustainable project impact.
