An Approach to Overcome the Limitations of Surveillance of Asbestos Related Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What We Learned from the Sibaté Study in Colombia

• Main Authors: Juan Pablo Ramos-Bonilla (Author), Margarita Giraldo (Author), Daniela Marsili (Author), Roberto Pasetto (Author), Benedetto Terracini (Author), Agata Mazzeo (Author), Corrado Magnani (Author), Pietro Comba (Author), Benjamin Lysaniuk (Author), María Fernanda Cely-García (Author), Valeria Ascoli (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Ubiquity Press, 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2214-9996; 10.5334/aogh.4166
• Keywords: asbestos; sibaté; colombia; mesothelioma; cluster; surveillance; research-protocol; asbestos-cement-facility; non-occupational-exposure; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Annals of Global Health, Vol 89, Iss 1, Pp 64-64 (2023)

Introduction: The asbestos industry began its operations in Colombia in 1942 with the establishment of an asbestos-cement facility in Sibaté, located in the Department of Cundinamarca. Despite extensive asbestos use and production in Colombia, the country lacks a reliable epidemiological surveillance system to monitor the health effects of asbestos exposure. The Colombian health information system, known as SISPRO, did not report mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the municipality, posing a significant challenge in understanding the health impacts of asbestos exposure on the population of Sibaté. Methods: To address this issue, an active surveillance strategy was implemented in Sibaté. This strategy involved conducting door-to-door health and socioeconomic structured interviews to identify Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs). Validation strategies included a thorough review of medical records by a panel of physicians, and the findings were communicated to local, regional, and national authorities, as well as the general population. Results: The active surveillance strategy successfully identified a mesothelioma cluster in Sibaté, revealing the inadequacy of the existing health information system in monitoring asbestos-related diseases. The discovery of this cluster underscores the critical importance of implementing active surveillance strategies in Colombia, where governmental institutions and resources are often limited. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the urgent need for Colombia to establish a reliable epidemiological surveillance system for asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). Active surveillance strategies can play a crucial role in identifying mesothelioma clusters and enhancing our understanding of the health effects of asbestos exposure in low- and middle-income countries.