A screen displays the software DHIS2 (District Health Information Software ) at the District Health Department in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo on July 23, 2019. For the Global Fund national mosquito net distribution in the country scheduled for August, 2019, ICT4D solutions were considered to be integrated into the project as as has been achieved in other countries such as Nigeria. During preparations of the mosquito net distribution, the Congolese government communicated problems of centralizing accurate data on health information that was be transmitted from the village level up to the national level. DHIS was proposed to more efficiently collate data not just for the distribution but also as a longer term solution to transform the country’s archaic healthcare system. Subsequently, CRS supported logistical components, training twelve staff from the Ministry of Health who can support DHIS2, paid for human resources, materials (computers, printers, modems hard drives) to the value of 22,000 000 francs ($37,000). CRS also financed paid technical support and host provider for the system. The District Health Information Software (DHIS) is used in more than 60 countries around the world. DHIS is an open source software platform for reporting, analysis and dissemination of data for all health programs, developed by the Health Information Systems Programme (HISP). The core development activities of the DHIS 2 platform (see note on releases and versions further down) are coordinated by the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo, and supported by NORAD, PEPFAR, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF and the University of Oslo.

Wilson says, "Until recently we had many problems regarding the compilation of information, not all of it would arrive at the central level. There was a loss of information as it was transferred on paper, via telephone, unreliable systems. We want whoever is collecting the information at the village level is the one who inputs it so there is nothing at lost along the way, it is an archaic system. Good information allows us to make good decisions. Based on bad info we waste resources and time.” It’s automatic, once the data arrives it can be viewed by the ministry of health, the cabinet, the Director General, donors and partners."

Ulrich Akouala, Nutrition Focal Point from the Health Department says, "Once we have the accurate info we can plan properly and consequently there are benefits for the population. If the information is not good, neither is the planning."


Photo by Sam Phelps/Catholic Relief Services