Requests for assistance can be made directly to any of the section’s staff. Certain types of assistance (e.g. in-country) may require written requests from relevant government departments.

Policy Development

Technical assistance on policies and national plans of action with regards to communicable disease surveillance and response is available to PICT governments on request, particularly with reference to the PPHSN strategic framework and development plans.

Technical assistance

Ad hoc technical assistance is available on request to EpiNet teams and ministries and departments of health for communicable disease public health surveillance and epidemiology, especially the review and development of surveillance systems, and outbreak investigation and response.

Through the laboratory specialist and LabNet, the public health laboratory network of the PPHSN, technical assistance and advice can be provided on laboratory testing methods, technical and shipping procedures for the confirmation of outbreaks.

Training

In partnership with PPHSN members and bodies, the section conducts sub-regional and in-country training workshops in:

• public health surveillance
• outbreak investigation & communicable disease epidemiology
• computer applications for public health surveillance and outbreak investigation.

Accreditation by the Fiji School of Medicine is possible. These workshops can also be delivered within the framework of a “Data for Decision-Making” (DDM) training programme or Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP).

Participants: Preferably members of the national/territorial EpiNet team (or equivalent), plus any person involved in public health surveillance and response.

Duration: 1 week for each module.

Cost: SPC or other PPHSN partners (including PICTs) cover airfare and per diem costs provided funding is available. A cost-share basis is also possible, e.g. for in-country training with the country covering local costs.

Follow-up: Participants are expected to implement or improve some surveillance activities in-country. A field project is required within the framework of the DDM or FETP.

Training on request

In partnership with PPHSN members and bodies, sub-regional or in-country training workshops can be provided on request, provided funding (by the country/territory or from other sources) is available. The subject areas can be tailored to address specific country needs.

For example:

• In-country training workshops on identification, surveillance and control of vector mosquitoes (in collaboration with Pasteur Institute of New Caledonia and Louis Malardé Institute), data use, surveillance or outbreak investigation.
• In-country training on laboratory testing methods, technical and shipping procedures.

Training attachments

This training takes the form of an attachment within the Section at SPC’s Noumea headquarters. Trainees work on specific projects, with clear objectives and expected outputs, agreed on between themselves and the Section. Usually, an article by the trainee on the achieved work is published as a result of the attachment.

Eligible applicants: Students or health professionals from the region interested in public health surveillance of communicable diseases.

Conditions: Application on request of country/territory or partner agency. Approval is contingent on the workload of the section and on availability of funding.

Number of participants: One, possibly two persons can be trained at a time.

Duration: Preferably 3-4 months, although this is flexible.

Cost: On a cost-sharing basis, depending on availability of funding (with the section possibly covering airfare and per diem costs for food and accommodation).

Follow-up: On their return home, possibility of assistance at distance if needed.

Meetings

In order to plan and monitor PPHSN development, the following meetings are organised by the section (in some cases in cooperation with partners):

(a) PPHSN Coordinating Body meetings: Typically held once a year with all Coordinating Body members.

(b) PPHSN regional or sub-regional meetings: Held approximately every two years for EpiNet team (or equivalent) members (usually the focal points) and/or other decision makers from ministries and departments of health active in the area of communicable disease surveillance and response.

Networks

PacNet is an e-mail (and fax) listserver for a network of health practitioners interested or working in the Pacific Islands, which allows rapid overall communication (and makes possible ‘Early Warnings’) regarding epidemic threats; PacNet consequently makes it possible to raise awareness and preparedness levels in the region. It also gives access to resources, including expertise.

PacNet-restricted is used as a communication tool restricted to selected health professionals from Ministries and Departments of Health (usually decision makers) and PPHSN Coordinating Body members. It is a possible alternative to PacNet in the very early stages of outbreaks, when information is often sensitive and confidential (i.e. not yet confirmed and/or an adequate public health response has not yet been brought about). It is also used for requests for information regarding outbreak news published by media.

PacNet-Lab was created for the development of LabNet, the public health laboratory network, and includes laboratory health professionals from the region, as well as the Coordinating Body members. The list is used to share lab-specific information.

Subscription: Health practitioners can subscribe to PacNet or PacNet-Lab, by sending an e-mail message to: [email protected] and [email protected]. Health practitioners need permission of their Health Director and of the SPC Section to subscribe to PacNet-restricted.

Grants

Through the PPHSN, the section aims at setting up a sustainable funding mechanism for outbreak-related assistance in the region. In the meantime, depending on funding availability, the section tries to answer to small funding requests from the PICTs in emergency response situations due to communicable disease outbreaks.

Information resources available

Inform’Action, the bulletin of the PPHSN, is published by the section three times each year. Articles (typically by health professionals from the region) address public health surveillance and communicable disease control. Hard copies of Inform’Action are sent to all Ministries and Departments of Health, including all EpiNet teams (or equivalent), PacNet members and to PPHSN allied bodies. Other publications include the Monograph on Public Health Surveillance in the Pacific and the issue of the Pacific Health Dialog on Telehealth.

All publications are available in electronic format on the PPHSN website, and on request. The websites (see above) are also important information sources.