Ten epidemiologists, 1 data specialist and an admin officer were deployed to support the response in Kano . The team members were drafted to support various pillars from coordination, surveillance, point of entry, IPC, case management and social mobilization pillars.
The AFENET team members gave specific support as follows :
- As part of the State coordination team we supported the implementation of the intensification exercise during the outbreak. This includes activities such as developing the protocol reviewing the SOPs and TORs training.
- Support the development of the Incidence Action Plan (IAP)
- Manage the vehicle fleet of over 30 cars for over three months during the intense period of the response. Ensuring effective utilization of the available vehicles.
- The admin Staff supported the logistics pillar
- Kano Mortality Review: AFENET Staff led the team of partners that prepared and implemented the protocol on excess mortality investigation in Kano State. The team developed the protocol for verbal autopsy, trained ward focal persons, developed ODK data collection platform, collected and analyzed the data on excess mortality reported in Kano state and made recommendations to the relevant stakeholders.
- The Data Management team supported the Kano state government in various capacities :
- set up the data management system for the surveillance data collected on SORMAS.
- Supported the development of an android version of a data collection tool for the community investigation of the mass death reported in the state, supervised data collection, analysis and report writing for the investigation.
- At all levels of engagement, the data management team mentored the government staff on data entry, analysis, and interpretation to ensure that data analysis was conducted in line with the desires of the states and government agencies supported.
- Strengthen the utilization of SOMARS management which improved the communication between RRT – Lab – Evacuation team and case management team. Currently, the team is still supporting data management for the epidemiological and data review meeting holding bi-weekly through the leadership of the NCDC.
- The Data management team at AFENET also supported the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and research pillars. Key areas of support included research and survey design, training, data analysis and report writing.