Health Management Information Systems

Health Management Information Systems – Geographic Information Systems

In order to be effective in providing health services, information is essential.  In the developing world, information is critical in maximizing the limited resources which are available.  IMA World Health, through its faith-based and US government partners (including USAID and the CapacityPlus project), has been at the forefront in efforts to collect, analyze and disseminate health facility and program data in several countries.  Knowing the numbers of health providers and the services available in facilities helps health managers to plan better, to increase the numbers of those who access services and to improve service efficiency.

In Tanzania, IMA has worked for a number of years with the Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) and the CapacityPlus project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to collect data on faith-based health facilities and programs, and then integrate this information into a national database.  In addition, together with the USAID Funded Tanzania Health Resources Project, IMA collaborates with the CSSC in streamlining the human resources information system, a pioneering effort within the private sector in the country.

In South Sudan, IMA has collaborated with the Ministry of Health to incorporate health data into databases in the states of Jonglei and Upper Nile where IMA manages its Multi-Donor Trust Fund program supported by the World Bank.  Additional cooperation between IMA and the Ministry has resulted in increased awareness of the importance of health management information at the national level.