Assessing Disease Surveillance and Tuberculosis Control Capacity in a High-Burden Urban Primary Hospital in Accra
1
Public Health Department, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A522
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Effective communicable disease control depends on robust surveillance and timely tuberculosis (TB) detection, particularly in densely populated urban settings. Primary hospitals in Ghana perform essential early-warning and case-management roles but often operate under significant system constraints that threaten the quality of infectious disease response.^1,2 This assessment examines the capacity of the Disease Control and TB units at Mamprobi Hospital, a major public facility within the Ablekuma South Sub-Metro of Accra.
METHODS:
A structured situational assessment was conducted using direct observation, review of disease surveillance tools, and informal interviews with disease control officers, TB staff, and community health nurses. Parameters evaluated included Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) reporting workflows, vaccine management practices, staffing adequacy, TB diagnostic pathways, and treatment support systems.^1,3,4
RESULTS:
The Disease Control Unit oversees procurement, storage, and distribution of vaccines across the sub-metro following national cold-chain standards, including twice-daily temperature monitoring, vaccine vial monitors, and expiry tracking.^3,5 Despite established systems, the unit is staffed by only three officers responsible for surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis, measles, cholera, meningitis, neonatal tetanus, and additional priority diseases. At the TB clinic, all outpatient attendees undergo symptom-based screening as mandated by national guidelines.^4 Sputum samples are referred externally for GeneXpert testing due to the absence of on-site molecular diagnostics, consistent with known national challenges in TB diagnostic availability.^6 Treatment adheres to DOTS or community-based therapy; however, TB preventive therapy (3HP) was unavailable, limiting protection for exposed contacts.^2 Community follow-up is performed by CHNs but hindered by staffing shortages and logistic limitations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Mamprobi Hospital implements core communicable disease and TB control protocols, yet critical structural gaps, staff shortages, diagnostic dependence, and preventive therapy stockouts, impair optimal infectious disease response. Addressing these limitations is essential to strengthen urban TB control and surveillance capacity.
Effective communicable disease control depends on robust surveillance and timely tuberculosis (TB) detection, particularly in densely populated urban settings. Primary hospitals in Ghana perform essential early-warning and case-management roles but often operate under significant system constraints that threaten the quality of infectious disease response.^1,2 This assessment examines the capacity of the Disease Control and TB units at Mamprobi Hospital, a major public facility within the Ablekuma South Sub-Metro of Accra.
METHODS:
A structured situational assessment was conducted using direct observation, review of disease surveillance tools, and informal interviews with disease control officers, TB staff, and community health nurses. Parameters evaluated included Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) reporting workflows, vaccine management practices, staffing adequacy, TB diagnostic pathways, and treatment support systems.^1,3,4
RESULTS:
The Disease Control Unit oversees procurement, storage, and distribution of vaccines across the sub-metro following national cold-chain standards, including twice-daily temperature monitoring, vaccine vial monitors, and expiry tracking.^3,5 Despite established systems, the unit is staffed by only three officers responsible for surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis, measles, cholera, meningitis, neonatal tetanus, and additional priority diseases. At the TB clinic, all outpatient attendees undergo symptom-based screening as mandated by national guidelines.^4 Sputum samples are referred externally for GeneXpert testing due to the absence of on-site molecular diagnostics, consistent with known national challenges in TB diagnostic availability.^6 Treatment adheres to DOTS or community-based therapy; however, TB preventive therapy (3HP) was unavailable, limiting protection for exposed contacts.^2 Community follow-up is performed by CHNs but hindered by staffing shortages and logistic limitations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Mamprobi Hospital implements core communicable disease and TB control protocols, yet critical structural gaps, staff shortages, diagnostic dependence, and preventive therapy stockouts, impair optimal infectious disease response. Addressing these limitations is essential to strengthen urban TB control and surveillance capacity.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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