Title : Closing the data–action gap: Leveraging public health surveillance to improve rehabilitation outcomes in low-resource settings
Abstract:
Public health surveillance systems are widely recognized as essential tools for disease prevention and control; however, their role in informing rehabilitation planning and improving long-term functional outcomes remains underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings. While substantial investments have been made in strengthening reporting systems and digital health platforms such as DHIS2, a persistent “data–action gap” continues to limit the translation of surveillance data into meaningful clinical and programmatic decisions.
This presentation explores how surveillance systems can be leveraged beyond traditional epidemiological functions to support rehabilitation services and continuity of care. Drawing on evidence from sub-Saharan Africa and empirical insights from Zambia, the presentation highlights how timely, complete, and effectively analyzed surveillance data can improve identification of vulnerable populations, support targeted interventions, strengthen resource allocation, and enhance recovery outcomes following infectious diseases such as malaria.
Using a systems-thinking perspective, the presentation conceptualizes surveillance as an interconnected framework consisting of inputs (infrastructure, workforce capacity, training), processes (data collection, reporting, analysis), outputs (data quality, completeness, timeliness), and outcomes (data utilization and evidence-based decision-making). Particular attention is given to barriers that weaken data use, including limited analytical capacity, weak feedback mechanisms, fragmented information systems, and institutional constraints.
The presentation argues that surveillance systems should be repositioned from passive reporting structures to active decision-support tools capable of informing integrated rehabilitation planning. Strengthening interoperability, institutionalizing data-use culture, and integrating rehabilitation indicators into routine health information systems are proposed as critical strategies for improving rehabilitation outcomes in resource-constrained health systems.
This approach provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between public health surveillance and patient-centered rehabilitation, ultimately contributing to stronger, more responsive, and evidence-driven healthcare systems.
