RITM hosted the first Sentinel Hospital-Based Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) Surveillance Midyear Updates and Assessment on 21 to 23 June 2016 at the Crimson Hotel. The event highlighted the importance of readiness to combat and to prevent infectious diseases that may arise in the future.

“[SARI Surveillance] is significant in ensuring that the laboratories—not just RITM—are prepared for outbreaks to ensure global health security,” says RITM Director Socorro Lupisan.

The participating sub-national laboratories gave updates on their progress and raised some important issues on the SARI surveillance during the assessment. The SNLs also shared some of their best practices in their respective hospitals and the challenges they encountered. Participating SNLs include Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences-Manila, and Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences-Cebu. Representatives from the DOH- Central office and selected DOH attached agencies were also present on the event.

The annual assessment on SARI Surveillance, hosted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is scheduled for the month of September this year. -Kristin Nicole San Juan