Factors influencing collaboration for Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) in COVID-19 response in Anambra state: Sub-national Spectrum

Abstract

Surveillance outbreak response management analysis system (SORMAS) has introduced a real time digital surveillance that helps in early detection and outbreak response management in our health sector. Stakeholders and local respondents have built several partnerships to reinforce leadership on incident and pandemic response at the sub-national level using SORMAS. This study explored factors influencing collaboration for SORMAS in Anambra state: Sub-national spectrum. The study was carried out in Anambra State, Nigeria. The sixty primary respondents were the surveillance actors who are directly involved in the use of SORMAS for disease surveillance. This study adopted a qualitative methodology. There were more female than male of 65.0% and 35.0% respectively, of the total respondents, 48.0% were within the age range >45 years was the highest while the least 6.6% of the respondents fall within the age range of <25 years.. 98% of the respondents highlighted that leadership and governance is a key factor for improvement of SORMAS. 99% of the respondents stated that sustainable collaboration and partnership at the sub-national level depend on three crucial elements: multisectoral intervention, inclusivity, and comprehensive supportive supervision. In order to have a health system that can withstand challenges and emergencies, effective leadership and governance that is well-coordinated, combined multiple sectors involvement and feedback mechanisms is crucial.

Keywords: Sub-national, surveillance, outbreak, response, collaboration