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Health Metrics Network > HMN Weekly highlights

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HMN Weekly Highlight

Rolling-out a new Health Information System: Challenges and Progress
in Ethiopia
====================================================================

05 March 2010

The results of the first assessment of Ethiopia’s new Health
Management Information System and Monitoring and Evaluation system are
now publicly available in a recent paper published in the Federal
Ministry of Health’s Quarterly Health Bulletin. The findings measure
progress in four of the country’s eleven regions which have
implemented the new system since 2007, providing valuable lessons
learned for a future nationwide rollout.

“Having seen the encouraging results and developments in the four
pioneering regions, the remaining seven regions have shown readiness
and commitment to implement the new system also”, said Woldemariam
Hirpa, Director of Policy and Planning at the Federal Ministry of
Health, and one of the authors of the paper, “Since data completeness
and reporting timelines are fairly satisfactory to us, the Ministry
can now pay greater attention to data quality and use.”

The assessment illustrates that timeliness of reports varied from 67%
to 100% and completeness of reports from 83% to 96%. Information use
also improved over time and is believed to have contributed to
sustained progress in health services coverage and reduction of drug
stock out rates. The assessment concludes that implementing health
facilities are achieving a lot with little support and resources in
the four pioneering regions. While improvements are still possible in
areas like human resources and training, in supply and outfitting, as
well as in the harmonization of parallel reporting, the evaluation
considers that, even in resource-constrained settings, the new system
can lead to better data quality and information use, contributing to
improved efficiency and quality of health services.

The report includes specific recommendations to improve the new system
such as strengthening logistics management, as well as training and
regional and local capacity building. The assessment further suggests
the need to strengthen and regularize review meetings and supervision
at all levels, particularly in the early stages of implementation.
Discouraging demands for parallel reporting by programs and donors
will finally benefit one single reporting channel, which reduces work
burden for staff, duplication and redundancy and focuses on
simplification and use for action.

:: To read the full text of the report, please click here. pdf 231kb

:: For more information on the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, please
follow this link.

:: For the complete list of Weekly Highlights, please click here.

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