15 July 2024 – Aden and Sana’a, Yemen – WHO is leading an initiative to strengthen the integration of Yemen’s health and nutrition information systems. A key partner in the National Information Technical Working Group, WHO is driving this effort in collaboration with other key stakeholders.
The initiative will enable more robust reporting on relevant health and nutrition indicators at the district level, thanks to clear guidance on how to triangulate and interpret various sources of data. These sources include a range of programmes at all levels of implementation: facility-level, district and governorate health offices, and the central Ministry of Public Health and Population.
With the World Bank’s support via the Emergency Human Capital Project (EHCP), WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have worked with the health authorities in Yemen to initiate and expand the rollout of the District Health Information Software (DHIS2).
To strengthen and streamline reporting of nutrition data in particular, WHO is taking strategic skills development action in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This effort will develop the skills of government workers, including nutrition focal points, data managers, and health and information management focal points, as well as partners such as UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Nutrition Cluster focal points. A workshop in August 2023 covered the key concepts and WHO is now developing a standardized guideline for cross-analysis and interpretation of nutrition data. This will help prioritize actions to improve nutrition among children in Yemen.
At the operational level, WHO continues to routinely invest in building the capacities of nutrition data chain focal points, training more than 360 individuals so far. WHO convenes quarterly review meetings with data chain focal points to monitor their performance. The outputs of these meetings show progressive improvements in analysis, interpretation and reporting. WHO will provide further specialized training to develop the capacity of the same focal points to use DHIS2 to conduct complex triangulation analysis and export data for more advanced analysis and reporting.
With WHO support, data flow mechanisms and reporting using DHIS2 have been strengthened. More than 260 nutrition surveillance sites have shifted from paper-based to electronic reporting, with WHO supporting the provision of the required tablet computers. WHO is also working to address persistent challenges such as internet connectivity and timely reporting in some areas, by providing technical guidance, alternative arrangements, supportive supervision and follow-up.
Under EHCP, WHO will continue to procure and distribute tablet computers so that Yemen’s 80 remaining nutrition surveillance sites can start to report electronically into DHIS2. Refresher training will also be conducted at governorate and district levels, so that the reported data can be used effectively.
This work will continue in support of overarching information system strengthening activities in line with WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health approach. These activities include finalizing the national health information strategy; investing in hardware and software; improving surveillance for various health conditions from birth to death; and strengthening the use of information management systems at the facility, district, governorate and central levels.
With sustained investments in these areas, the authorities in Yemen and partners will be empowered to make evidence-informed decisions to advance population health and well-being.