HADDA
HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT & ACTIONSPIDER’s experience and expertise in Digital Health and the knowledge of key Somali organisations leading change will be combined to create a unified Health Information Management Systems, strengthen capacity in Somalia to digitalise health data and produce research evidence that will inform further development of Somalia’s health system.
Health information system is one of the building blocks for a functioning healthcare. This includes data collection and management to support national health care policy decisions. The necessity for an effective health management information system (HMIS) has further been intensified in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To assess the current status of the health information system in Somalia and the availability of a functional HMIS, SPIDER together with partner organisations set out to establish baseline for the programme. A needs assessment to identify the capacity needs for human and technical support was carried out in the selected regions. HADDA is supporting the Federal government’s digital health management system. To achieve a cohesive HMIS, HADDA collaborates closely with the Federal and regional Ministries of Health in the development of an integrated HMIS feasible for member states as well as on the federal level. SPIDER has also engaged in collaboration and dialogue with WHO, UNICEF, the Swedish Public Health Agency and Somali National Health Institute.
When?
From November 2019 to December 2022.
How?
SPIDER and partners will
Support
a unified Health Information Management System for access to quality data for decision making at local, regional and national level in Somalia.
Strengthen
Produce
Collaborate
Where?
Work is focused on Maternal and Child Health clinics in the federal states Puntland and Galmudug, and the Banaadir region where Mogadishu is situated. Up to 100 health facilities will be part of the implementing pilot.
Regions
Pilot sites
Puntland state of Somalia
Galmudug state
Banaadir
is an administrative region in southeastern Somalia.It covers the same area as the city of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. It is bordered to the northwest by the Shabelle river, and to the southeast by the Somali Sea. Although by far the smallest administrative region in Somalia, it has the largest population.
Activities
The assessment design included:
Regional and District Health managment units
Health facilities
Developing data collection tools
Data collection tools were customized to fit the objectives of HADDA and to ensure they were participatory, inclusive and capable of capturing an in-depth understanding of HMIS -management, -coordination and enabling policies and programs. A health facility assessment checklist and a structured questionnaire were used to collect quantitative data.
Selecting Health Facilities
The number of health facilities and locations were determined by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health for Puntland and Galmudug.
Collecting and analysing data
The assessment was conducted with informants across the health sector, including decision makers. Collectors used a mobile data collection tool, that sent collected data to the field coordinators for real-time monitoring of submitted forms. This provided opportunity for continuous and immediate feedback for improvements and complementation when needed.
Training technical assistants
A team of experienced technical assistants from the federal and regional MoH received training from partner organisations KasmoDev and SIDRA on the assessment tools before field deployment.
Partner organisations
KasmoDev
KasmoDev is a development consulting firm working with Human Resources Resolutions and direct program delivery in Eastern and Horn of Africa countries. KasmoDev has offices in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
SIDRA – Somali Institute for Development Research and Analysis
SIDRA is a private, not-for- profit research and policy analysis think tank working to provide quality research and development services in Somalia in order to contribute to the attainment of the development priorities of the country. SIDRA’s headquarter is in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland State of Somalia.
Programme news
Assessments findings
Research partner Sidra has concluded their baseline study and implementing partner KasmoDev their technical assessment. What did they find?
WHO and SPIDER sign MoU to strengthen HMIS
This MOU is part of a new, innovative partnership between WHO, Sweden and Somali health authorities to support Somali health care systems.