The Ormoc City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) is a crucial public health initiative responsible for monitoring, preventing, and controlling communicable diseases within Ormoc City. The CESU ensures the timely identification of public health threats and implements measures to protect the Ormocanons' health and safety. It operates in compliance with national health laws and local ordinances, serving as the city’s first line of defense against health emergencies.

Objectives:

1. Disease Surveillance: Conduct both active and passive surveillance to detect and monitor communicable diseases and potential outbreaks.

2. Data Collection and Analysis: Manage epidemiological data to identify trends and risk factors affecting public health in the city.

3. Public Health Response: Develop and implement timely interventions, including contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine measures, to prevent the spread of diseases.

4. Health Education and Promotion: Provide accurate and timely health information to the public and healthcare providers to raise awareness and promote preventive measures.

5. Collaboration: Work closely with local and national health authorities, hospitals, and community organizations to strengthen Ormoc's public health preparedness and response.

Legal Basis:

Republic Act No. 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act): Establishes the legal obligation to report, track, and respond to notifiable diseases and public health emergencies. This act mandates the creation of surveillance units to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of public health threats.

Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160): Grants LGUs the power to implement health programs        including the establishment of surveillance systems and the allocation of resources for public health emergencies.

Ormoc City Ordinance No 102, Series of 2023: An Ordinance Strengthening Public Health Surveillace System in Ormoc City by Institutionalizing the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) under the City Health Department, Defining its Functions and Composition and Appropriationg Funds Therefor and for other purposes

Key Activities:

• Surveillance Operations: Routine monitoring of disease trends from health facilities, community health workers, and laboratory reports.

• Outbreak Investigation: Immediate response to suspected or confirmed outbreaks, including containment and mitigation strategies.

• Contact Tracing: Identifying and monitoring individuals exposed to communicable diseases, ensuring proper follow-up and interventions.

• Health Information Dissemination: Providing timely updates to the public and stakeholders through press releases, advisories, and health education campaigns.

• Capacity Building: Training programs for health workers and volunteers to improve skills in surveillance, outbreak management, and data reporting.

Impact:

       Ormoc CESU plays a pivotal role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, ensuring public health safety, and enhancing the city’s readiness to face public health threats. By adhering to its legal mandates, the CESU contributes significantly to the resilience and health security of the community.

Ongoing

      The Ormoc City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) has made significant strides towards establishing a functional integrated disease surveillance and response system. Executive Order No. 03-A, issued in 2020, established the City Epidemiology Service Unit and mandated the reporting of notifiable diseases under the Ormoc City Health Department.

       In December 2022, SP Member Edmund Kierulf proposed an ordinance aimed at strengthening the public health surveillance system in Ormoc City. This ordinance institutionalized the CESU under the City Health Department, defining its functions, composition, and allocating necessary funds. Following a series of committee hearings and meetings at the SP Conference Room, the CESU Ordinance was passed during the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session in February 2023 and subsequently signed by the Mayor on March 8, 2023 (Ormoc City Ordinance No 102, Series of 2023).

December 10, 2024, A certificate of Recognition was awarded to the CHD- Ormoc City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. For the successful implementation of a 100% fully functional epidemiology and surveillance system, recognizing the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU)’s outstanding commitment to public health and safety.

       All District Health Centers within the Ormoc City Health Department are actively supporting the enhancement of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. These centers play a crucial role in promptly reporting cases of notifiable diseases in their respective districts. Each district has at least one personnel trained in Basic Epidemiology and both offline and online PIDSR encoding (District Nurse and Sanitary Inspector). They also serve as surveillance staff, assisting in conducting comprehensive case investigations under the supervision of their assigned medical officers. Furthermore, they are equipped with computer units and laptops installed with PIDSR, a surveillance system that enables public health officials to monitor disease occurrence and spread effectively.

         Additionally, all five hospitals have designated Disease Surveillance Officers who maintain constant coordination with the CESU. They submit weekly reports on cases of notifiable diseases using the same surveillance system.

         This structured approach ensures that Ormoc City's public health surveillance system is responsive and capable of effectively monitoring and managing health threats within the community.

                    Ormoc City recorded a significant increase in Dengue cases totaling to 971 cases from January to November 16, 2024. Cases of Dengue started to increase from Morbidity Week 21 as shown on Figure 1. There was a total of 84% of the cases decided to seek intervention from Private (66%) and Government (18%) Hospitals. Rural Health Units also consulted at least 15% (See Graph Below).

                     Children aged 1-10 years were the most affected, comprising 33% of the total cases, followed by individuals aged 11–20 years (31%), aged 21 - 30 (16%), 21-40 (8%), 41 above (8%) and children under 1 year old (3%). Clinically, 58% as dengue with warning signs, 42% with no warning signs and 0% as severe dengue. Of the 971 cases of Dengue, a total of 1 Death was recorded from Barangay Cabintan. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and resource allocation to mitigate the impact of the outbreak.

February 20-21, 2023 - Subic, Zambales

Joint EDCS - IS, Tanod Kontra COVID, SEIR and AEFI Information System Training of Trainers 

September 2023 - Cebu City, Cebu

Training of Trainers on Event-Based Surveillance and Response Core Processes, Form and Online Information System

October 17 – 20, 2023 - Sabin Resort Hotel

Joint Systems Training on EDCS, SEIR, TKC, AEFI and ESR Information Systems which was conducted by RESU VIII

July - October 2023 - Iloilo City

Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) - Frontline Course

November 11 - 15, 2024 - Tacloban City

Risk Communication and Community Engagement - Info-Dynamics Management Training