Disease surveillance systems constitute the foundation of appropriate health plans. Surveillance data collection components at best are dependent on a series of contingencies. In developing countries scattered static health centres may result in biased and practically unusable data. A system is here described for collecting data from a sample of persons chosen for their statistical representation of the entire population. Monthly interviews can provide both prevalence and incidence data at low cost using paramedical personnel. Continuing work in this area could provide developing countries with alternative methods of defining their population-nutrition-communicable disease problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1976

Epidemiologic surveillance of protein calorie malnutrition.

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Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Smallpox eradication in West and Central Africa.

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prospects for universal immunization: strategies for achievement.

The technology, experience, management abilities, and international organization now exist for universal immunization coverage in most areas of the world. Unprecedented improvements in immunization coverage have been achieved in recent years because of the collaborative efforts of the international agencies and individual countries. The major barriers still existing can potentially be solved by providing for long-term external support for some countries, by improving the training available to health workers, by enlisting the involvement of political leaders, and by mobilizing all segments of society to improve the health of their children so that immunization does not become the responsibility of the health departments alone.

Communicable Disease Control↗