NEWS, EVENTS & PHOTOS
PRESS RELEASE: Sierra Leone's Health Information System Revitalized
By
Aug 11, 2008, 15:39

 SIERRA LEONE GOVERNMENT
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SANITATION

Freetown, 8 August, 2008 (MoHS) The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Soccoh Alex Kabia, today unveiled Sierra Leone's revitalized District Health Information System. The district health information system will produce information on key indicators of public health performance for use by decision makers and leaders in chiefdoms, district offices and at the national level.

The district health information system includes a computerized system that systematically captures, collates and analyses data from peripheral health units in the country. The system allows for data on services on expanded program on immunization, malaria control, HIV prevention services, and making pregnancy safer, to be presented as reports that capture either national­ level, district-level or chiefdom-level activities.

"I am proud to announce a milestone of the revitalized district health information system for Sierra Leone", said Dr. Kabia, Minister of Health and Sanitation. "The district health information system is designed to support an accountability structure by developing district health reports and facility health reports." Dr. Kabia also added that, "Information produced from this system will enhance evidence-based decision making at all levels of the Sierra Leone health system. It will also contribute to improving better health outcomes and efficiency in the use of existing resources for service delivery."

The district health information system is part of a costed strategic plan developed by the Ministry of Health and Statistics Sierra Leone in partnership with Health Metrics Network, World Health Organization, World Bank, UNICEF, and University of Sierra Leone College of Medicine and Allied Health Services. HISP/Oslo of University and Inveneo were instrumental in assisting the Ministry of Health to address the technical aspects of the Health Information system.

With funding from the World Bank and HMN, low powered computer systems that operate on solar energy are being installed in all 13 districts and District Monitoring and Evaluation Officers of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation have been trained to run the district information system.

"The experience in implementing this system has already provided many valuable lessons, which will be fully documented", said Dr. Kabia. "Even more will be learned as the decisions makers and data managers can now interact to strengthen data quality, improve on the user friendliness of the system, and make use of the resulting health statistics to improve public health decision making."

Sierra Leone's Health Information System is based on the framework and standards on Health Information developed by Health Metrics Network. When fully functional, the health information system will capture data from vital registration systems, census and population data and data on resource utilization in the health sector. "This will help us reduce the high mortality among children and pregnant women, thereby achieving the goals set out in the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Millennium Development Goals, by contributing to more evidenced-based planning and decision making at local levels, transparency and accountability and regular monitoring of progress made in the sector". said Dr Kabia.

The Government of Sierra Leone welcomes the continued support of development partners to fully fund the implementation of the Sierra Leone Health Information System.

Benefits:

1. Computerized information that can be accessed at all levels.

2. Immediate information for evidenced-based decision making.

3. More efficient and effective delivery of quality health services

4. More efficient utilization of scarce resources

5. Improved drug management and tracking, storing distribution and monitoring ensuring no stock-out - Always enough drugs.

6. More efficient and transparent procurement procedures.

For more information, please contact: Mr. Abbas Kamara-Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Health and Sanitation (Mobile +232 76 678021)