Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
Dates of implementation: 2023-present
Settings: Dhaka South, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar Refugee Camp
Context: Preparedness/ scale-up in emergencies
Data collection system: Bespoke app
Partners: IFRC, European Union, Danish Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR)
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the Bangladesh Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) joined forces in August 2023 to enhance Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) in Bangladesh. This partnership aims to strengthen early detection, reporting, and response to health threats, ensuring timely action against disease outbreaks.
CBS is being implemented in Dhaka South (two wards), Rajshahi (five wards) and Sylhet city (five wards). 240 community-based volunteers have been trained in early detection and reporting of five priority diseases/events:
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Influenza-like illness
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Acute watery diarrhoea
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Acute jaundice syndrome
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Dengue fever
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Unusual health event
CBS data collected by volunteers is integrated into the IEDCR website, enhancing accessibility, sustainability and integration in Bangladesh's national surveillance database.
CBS is being implemented as part of the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response (EPPR) pillar of the Programmatic Partnership, funded by the European Union and with technical support from German Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross and IFRC.