Progress in Implementation of Ebola Preparedness Plan of

Afghanistan

Ebola Control Center Ministry of Public Health

Kabul Afghanistan

National Disaster Management Plan-Health Sector Ebola Task Force chaired by Deputy Minister-

Health Care Services Provision Monitoring Questionnaire 2014 on progress of IHR-

2005 implementation is filled and gaps identified Ebola Action Plan Meetings almost weekly on Tuesdays with

updates/reviews/progress on implementation of activities for EVD Preparedness

TWGs for developing SOPs, training plan, others

Four international Airports- Kabul, Balkh, Herat and Kandahar

Two major ground crossings Torkham (Afghanistan-

Pakistan border) and Islam Qala

(Afghanistan-Iran border)

No Airport Health Office in organogram

Ambulance services available

Temporary arrangement of two doctors in Kabul(Hamid Karzai) International Airport

Airport contingency plan for emergency available but contingency plan for PHEIC under development

Self-declaration of travelers and IEC at POEs only

Draft SOP for infected traveler

Presently DEWS Plus (moving towards IDSR) is functioning effectively in early detection of outbreaks (event-based surveillance, EBS) as well as by indicator-based surveillance (IBS)

All DEWS focal points from Health facilities (about 400 Sentinel Sites) have been trained on EVD, MERS-CoV and Influenza (epidemiology, signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, early detection and case management and surveillance) during Oct-Nov 2014.

Contact tracing protocol (adapted from WHO) has been provided to all the DEWS Surveillance officers

34 Provincial RRTs being trained by 17 Dec 2014

Kabul city has only one Infectious Diseases Hospital (with about 200 beds).

Facility is not well equipped and would pose a significant risk to health staff and relatives of patients.

Similar isolation wards in Regional Hospitals identified for refurbishing with donor support

Renovation with WHO support as a basic Bio-Containment unit under progress

Scope for crisis expansion of beds including complete hospital

Trained staff in IPC but refresher training and simulation drills needed

Indira Gandi Children Hospital allocate one section for isolation

• Training of Staff

• Risk Allowance/Motivation

• Simulation exercise

• Critical care equipment

Current IPC guidelines developed by MoPH and partner organizations being reviewed and updated to include key components

The training will be practical, hands-on training on IPC for emerging diseases

WHO is supporting MOPH to develop the training package for IPC

Adequate PPE Burial of dead bodies not yet

addressed

Training would be by TOT at Kabul and cascaded to provinces

Presently staff at Isolation hospital have received various trainings in Hospital Infection control including Jhpiego (John Hopkins)

However once the bio-containment facility is ready a simulation exercise is planned and gaps would be identified.

The staff would be then trained to overcome the gaps identified to minimize risk

BSL I with II capability (almost 10 bio-safety cabinets, also in Regional Labs)

PCR and ELISA testing for Measles (WHO certified) and Influenza (WHO NIC)

No reagents/primers available for EVD, MERS CoV, H5N1

If glove box arranged could inactivate virus and test

CVDRL(animal Lab) similar capability but cannot test for H5N1

Lab training required Lab technicians from provinces trained

in sample collection and transportation No shipping trained technician with

IATA license so difficult to Courier

Rapid Diagnostic Kit (result in 15 minutes)

Risk Communication strategy for Pandemic Influenza preparedness was prepared by UNICEF, WHO and MoPH and has the expected strategies for any emerging disease

IEC material on MERS-CoV distributed to all Hajj pilgrims before departure

A communication package on Ebola is under development by UNICEF, WHO and MoPH and would be kept ready for roll out

Media sensitization workshops planned in Jan-Feb 2014

Thanks director.surveillance@gmail.com

Phone: 0093(0)202301366, cell: 0093700290955