Significant enhancements in the Maldives' health surveillance infrastructure, particularly for influenza and communicable diseases, have been achieved through the collaborative efforts of World Health Organization and the Health Protection Agency. This partnership has been strengthened by the use of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) funds, leading to initiatives that emphasize effective and sustainable health system improvements.
Approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2011, the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits (PIP Framework) plays a pivotal role. With the aim of preparing countries to respond to the next influenza pandemic, the PIP Framework establishes a ‘Partnership Contribution’ mechanism. Through this mechanism, WHO receives funds that are directed towards strengthening pandemic preparedness worldwide, including the initiatives seen in the Maldives.
“Despite being a high middle-income country, PIP funds are crucial for our nation, providing essential support for our Influenza program in areas such as human resources, logistics, and digitalization. These funds play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing our health surveillance systems.” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative "We extend our appreciation to the Influenza Program Team at WHO South-East Asia Regional Office for facilitating this support to our Country Office.”
A primary objective of this endeavor is the enhancement of the 'Sustainable Flu Surveillance System,' with all activities directed towards achieving this goal. With this support, WHO Maldives has facilitated the procurement of critical items such as Universal Transport Medium (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (VTM), and triple packaging boxes. These supplies are essential for the secure and efficient collection, transport, and storage of influenza samples. They are now stocked at both Health Protection Agency and the National Influenza Center (NIC), ensuring that the Maldives is well-prepared for influenza surveillance and response.
In addition to improving logistical capabilities, WHO has also supported the shipment of influenza samples to regional National Influenza Centers for sequencing. This step is crucial for identifying and tracking influenza strains, enabling timely and appropriate public health responses. WHO has also extended support in attaining Human Resources for the Influenza Programme through the hiring of a Project Manager and Project Officer. These consultancies provide dedicated expertise and leadership to the national programme.
A cornerstone of this initiative is the engagement with a digital health expert to develop a health information system based on District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) for Influenza and COVID-19 surveillance. Originally introduced in 2017 as a national health management information system, DHIS2 has revolutionized data management in the Maldives. By 2019, DHIS2 was operational nationwide, encompassing all public health facilities, private hospitals, and some clinics. This comprehensive rollout has facilitated better data analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of key health indicators, enabling informed and evidence-based decision-making.
Building on the Maldives' positive experience with DHIS2, WHO is now expanding its application to strengthen the country's communicable disease surveillance system, with a special focus on respiratory pathogens such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and other notifiable diseases.
As the initial step, this digital platform was piloted in the Greater Male' Region before being implemented at an Influenza Sentinel site in Raa Atoll. This process provided valuable feedback and insights on how to further strengthen the established data platform to enhance respiratory disease surveillance in the Maldives. It also enabled the recording and immediate notification of 19 diseases and notification within 24 hours for an additional 17 diseases. The system integrates both surveillance and laboratory components, allowing for seamless data entry, lab investigation requests, and result recording. Additionally, WHO is taking steps to document and showcase these innovative digital health initiatives being implemented by the country. .
The support from WHO’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) funds has significantly bolstered the Maldives' capacity to monitor and respond to influenza and other communicable diseases. From procuring essential supplies to leveraging digital health tools like DHIS2, these efforts have led to substantial improvements in health surveillance. As a trusted partner of the Government, WHO remains committed to supporting Maldives in advancing public health preparedness and ensuring the resilience of its health systems against future threats.