Africa health data remain patchy: fewer than half of the 40 African countries assessed by the World Health Organization notify authorities of at least eight in 10 deaths, according to a WHO report on Africa’s health information systems.
The report was launched at the First African Health Data Forum, which opened in Nairobi on Tuesday and runs until Thursday, UN News reported. Weak data leave governments unable to see which groups are being missed by health services.
What does the WHO report find about Africa’s health data?
Of the 40 countries assessed, 19 reported that authorities are notified of at least 80 per cent of deaths, and 21 record a cause for at least 80 per cent of registered deaths, the report said.
Capacity to use the data is also limited. Some 43 per cent of countries can analyse health data at clinic and hospital level, and only one in four can check its quality there. Only 18 per cent have a dedicated budget for health information systems.
“When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most,” said Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa.
Where has there been progress?
Of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region, 43 have adopted a digital platform for collecting and reporting routine health information. In Nigeria, health authorities in Bauchi state used vaccination and community data to find children who had missed routine immunisation, the report said. WHO has previously warned that missing data leaves children vulnerable in Nigeria’s polio fight.
What happens next?
The forum will review the findings and examine how digital health and artificial intelligence could strengthen health information systems. Hillary Kipruto, a WHO technical officer, told UN News that diagnostic tools had “leapfrogged”, but that countries need legislation and frameworks to use AI responsibly.
FAQ
How many African countries record most deaths?
Nineteen of the 40 countries assessed reported that authorities are notified of at least eight in 10 deaths, according to the WHO report.
How many countries record the cause of death?
Twenty-one of the 40 countries record a cause for at least eight in 10 of the deaths that are registered.
Where is the African Health Data Forum being held?
The first forum opened in Nairobi on Tuesday and runs through Thursday, bringing together health ministers and senior officials.
