Trending...
- Stigma Across Borders: Concerns Grow Over Discrimination Against Shincheonji Members Abroad
- Silent Gum Disease Can Harm More Than Your Smile, Says Salem Dentist Dr. Jeffrey Casiglia
- Boston: $600,000 in New Grant Funding to Prevent Community Overdose Deaths and Expand Access to Treatment
A new, groundbreaking project to strengthen community-based disease surveillance in urban African settings.
BOSTON - BostonChron -- The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) has launched an innovative research initiative with The Task Force for Global Health to explore the social dynamics and determinants influencing disease detection and reporting in urban African settings. The project - implemented with support from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as part of the Strengthening Outbreak Notification and Response (SONAR) initiative – aims to enhance the effectiveness of health threats monitoring and early warning system for outbreaks by leveraging trusted community knowledge networks and frontline observations, which are a critical channel for early outbreak detection.
In many low-resource urban environments, community members and frontline healthcare workers are often the first to observe unusual health events, yet they lack the systems or platforms to report this information in real time. The ISID project seeks to address this gap by identifying how disease-related information circulates through communities and by developing strategies to convert local observations into actionable public health signals.
More on Boston Chron
The first phase of the project will be conducted in Nigeria and Kenya, focusing on social network sampling in urban, peri-urban, and rural contexts. The initiative will analyze the roles of community leaders, health workers, local government, media, and informal influencers in shaping disease awareness, trust, and reporting practices.
"This project is about amplifying the voices of communities who are closest to the source of emerging threats," said Linda MacKinnon, ISID's CEO, "by understanding how information flows within these networks, we can enhance early warning systems and accelerate outbreak response."
"The Task Force for Global Health is proud to contribute to this effort in transforming how we approach disease surveillance," said SONAR Director Dr. Malembe S. Ebama. "This initiative will enhance our immediate ability to respond to outbreaks and lay the foundation for stronger, comprehensive public health systems in urban Africa for years to come. We are grateful for the partnership with ISID and the support of the Global Fund in making this project a reality."
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of ISID, the Global Fund, and the Task Force for Global Health to strengthen global health security. Localized, inclusive engagements with underserved communities provide the opportunity to learn from those on the frontlines, so communities, countries, and the world are better equipped for the next outbreak of significance.
More on Boston Chron
About ISID
The mission of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) is to support health professionals, non-government organizations, and governments around the world in their efforts to prevent, investigate, and manage infectious disease outbreaks when they occur. The Society is dedicated to developing partnerships and to finding solutions to the problems of infectious diseases across the globe and encourages the collaborative efforts of human health, veterinary health, and environmental health communities working locally, nationally, and globally for best control and management of infectious diseases. The Society is a global non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization open to all individuals interested in infectious diseases.
https://isid.org/
For more information, reach out to:
Dr. Mohamed M. Sirdar
ISID Global Program Specialist
msirdar@isid.org
In many low-resource urban environments, community members and frontline healthcare workers are often the first to observe unusual health events, yet they lack the systems or platforms to report this information in real time. The ISID project seeks to address this gap by identifying how disease-related information circulates through communities and by developing strategies to convert local observations into actionable public health signals.
More on Boston Chron
- EyeCool Therapeutics Announces Publication of Positive Clinical Study Results for Its COSP Device
- Is the Market Missing One of the Most Undervalued Cybersecurity Companies on the Stock Market? Cycurion, Inc. (N A S D A Q: CYCU):
- Billion-Dollar Scale Global Technology Powerhouse Being Built with Expanding Government Contracts: Circle8 Group (N A S D A Q: CIRC)
- Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Gears Up for Star-Studded 14th Annual Induction Gala Weekend
- New Thriller 'Counterframe' Explores the Hidden Vulnerabilities of Modern Society
The first phase of the project will be conducted in Nigeria and Kenya, focusing on social network sampling in urban, peri-urban, and rural contexts. The initiative will analyze the roles of community leaders, health workers, local government, media, and informal influencers in shaping disease awareness, trust, and reporting practices.
"This project is about amplifying the voices of communities who are closest to the source of emerging threats," said Linda MacKinnon, ISID's CEO, "by understanding how information flows within these networks, we can enhance early warning systems and accelerate outbreak response."
"The Task Force for Global Health is proud to contribute to this effort in transforming how we approach disease surveillance," said SONAR Director Dr. Malembe S. Ebama. "This initiative will enhance our immediate ability to respond to outbreaks and lay the foundation for stronger, comprehensive public health systems in urban Africa for years to come. We are grateful for the partnership with ISID and the support of the Global Fund in making this project a reality."
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of ISID, the Global Fund, and the Task Force for Global Health to strengthen global health security. Localized, inclusive engagements with underserved communities provide the opportunity to learn from those on the frontlines, so communities, countries, and the world are better equipped for the next outbreak of significance.
More on Boston Chron
- Award-Winning Heritage at South Brunswick Continues to Thrive as One of New Jersey's Premier New Home Communities
- Four Seasons Cleaners Debuts Santa Barbara County's First 24/7 Dry Cleaning Kiosk New self-service
- WhereTu Launches to Help Americans Build Successful Lives Abroad
- Boston: Mayor Michelle Wu Announces Launch of Summer Meal Sites Across the City Providing Healthy Meals At No Cost To Youth
- Appliance EMT Expands Built-In and Walk-In Refrigerator Service in Metro Atlanta
About ISID
The mission of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) is to support health professionals, non-government organizations, and governments around the world in their efforts to prevent, investigate, and manage infectious disease outbreaks when they occur. The Society is dedicated to developing partnerships and to finding solutions to the problems of infectious diseases across the globe and encourages the collaborative efforts of human health, veterinary health, and environmental health communities working locally, nationally, and globally for best control and management of infectious diseases. The Society is a global non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization open to all individuals interested in infectious diseases.
https://isid.org/
For more information, reach out to:
Dr. Mohamed M. Sirdar
ISID Global Program Specialist
msirdar@isid.org
Source: International Society for Infectious Diseases
0 Comments
Latest on Boston Chron
- Director Sean McNamara Reunites with Award-Winning Cinematographer Shawn Seifert for Upcoming Feature Home
- J. Kenton Pierce Wins Prometheus Award for Best Novel
- Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement Announce Third Summer of Boston After Dark Programming
- Class is in session: Black Beauty Block Party returns to Los Angeles for fourth annual festival
- Heavy Duty Journal Surpasses 1000 Technical Articles for Diesel Technicians and Fleet Managers
- Solar Dave MA Expands Beyond the South Shore to Serve All of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and NH
- Kolbus Introduces the Next Step in Casemaking Efficiency
- Silent Gum Disease Can Harm More Than Your Smile, Says Salem Dentist Dr. Jeffrey Casiglia
- Florida Law Advisers, P.A. Named Best Divorce Firm of 2026 by Expert Law Attorneys
- Boston: West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquito Test Sample in Jamaica Plain
- Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Parks and Recreation Announce Boston Family Golf Nights at City Golf Courses
- L-Tron to attend the 2026 National District Attorneys Association Annual Conference
- Sounds of LA County: 27 Parks.108 Concerts. One County
- Only One Flight Stands Between Los Angeles Youth Leaders and a Life-Saving Mission in South Africa
- Boston: Mayor Michelle Wu Urges Caution as Warm Weather Forecasted Throughout the Week
- Stigma Across Borders: Concerns Grow Over Discrimination Against Shincheonji Members Abroad
- World Cup Crowds Are a Stress Test for America's Restrooms
- Postmortem Pathology Expands Access to Private Autopsy Services in Las Vegas
- Boston: $600,000 in New Grant Funding to Prevent Community Overdose Deaths and Expand Access to Treatment
- How Sacramento Families Are Using Private Autopsies to Protect Inheritances, Resolve Insurance Claims, and Find Closure