Brief
Indicator-based surveillance catches what the health system already sees; event-based surveillance catches what it does not. This technical manual establishes a common regional approach to event-based surveillance (EBS) for the MPA countries, covering signal sources (community, health-facility, media and hotline), the triage and verification workflow, and the escalation pathway from signal to risk assessment to response. It defines the roles of community health workers, district surveillance officers and the national EOC, and specifies how EBS data flow into the digital surveillance system alongside indicator-based reporting. Practical annexes include signal definitions, a verification log template and a community-engagement guide, making the manual usable from the national institute down to the health post.
Signal sources
Community, health-facility, media and hotline channels are defined with worked examples of what constitutes a reportable signal in each.
Triage & verification
A standard workflow moves each signal from capture through triage and verification to a documented decision, with clear time targets.
Digital integration
EBS signals flow into the same digital platform as indicator-based data so analysts see one picture, not two disconnected streams.
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