Mixed surveillance means combining passive and active surveillance systems. This can work well, leading to better monitoring of communicable diseases and other health problems. Disease control programmes for HIV/AIDS, polio and malaria use a combination of passive and active surveillance systems.

So far, we have described to you the background needed to understand surveillance systems in Ethiopia. Box 40.3 summarises the features of a high-quality public health surveillance system in any country.

Box 40.3 Features of good public health surveillance

A high-quality public health surveillance system:

Involves and encourages the community to report all cases of diseases and other health problems
Uses both active and passive surveillance for effective disease control and prevention
Collects only useful data, using a simple data collection method
Uses laboratory services to confirm clinical diagnosis of disease
Reports data to the higher level when required and without delay
Quickly takes the right actions to improve services or programmes after data are reported.