For nearly two decades, PBIDS has generated the evidence needed to guide vaccine decisions, improve outbreak response, strengthen surveillance systems, and shape public health policy in Kenya and beyond.
Since 2006, PBIDS data from Asembo, Kibera, and expanding surveillance sites have contributed to national planning, intervention evaluation, and outbreak response.
PBIDS has provided critical evidence for the introduction and evaluation of life-saving vaccines in Kenya. Longitudinal surveillance data helped assess the effectiveness of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) and rotavirus vaccines, contributing to major gains in child health.
Beyond vaccines, PBIDS has also helped evaluate non-pharmaceutical interventions, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) efforts aimed at reducing diarrheal disease burden.
When COVID-19 emerged, PBIDS was immediately leveraged to monitor the pandemic and generate timely insights on SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology, community transmission patterns, and the effects of mitigation measures.
The platform also supported monitoring of vaccine rollout and broader response dynamics, demonstrating the value of sustained surveillance infrastructure during national and global emergencies.
With expansion to Isiolo and new surveillance modules, PBIDS is evolving to address more complex and interconnected health challenges.
PBIDS findings assist the Ministry of Health and County Governments in prioritizing prevention strategies and allocating limited resources to the places and populations where they are needed most.
PBIDS contributes to health security by helping detect re-emerging pathogens early and supporting Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) for unusual clusters of illness before they become wider outbreaks.
Through its expansion to Isiolo, PBIDS monitors the human-animal interface, tracking spillover infections and supporting surveillance for threats that affect both livestock productivity and human health.
PBIDS actively monitors antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals, and the environment to generate data that can inform treatment guidance and long-term control strategies.
Recognizing the double burden of disease, PBIDS now includes screening for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, helping identify risks alongside infectious disease threats.
The platform serves as a practical foundation for testing new surveillance approaches, identifying system gaps, and maintaining surge-ready capacity for future public health emergencies.
PBIDS is not only about surveillance data. It also creates tangible value for the people and communities who participate.
Participants receive regular health screening support. PBIDS helps facilitate early detection of infections and NCDs, often identifying conditions that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
Where resources allow, the platform supports subsidized care for acute illness and may reimburse transport costs for surveillance-related facility visits.
In pastoralist communities such as Isiolo, PBIDS supports basic veterinary interventions and communicates disease risks that may affect both livestock productivity and household health.
