Resource Type: Report
Authors: Olusesan A. Makinde, Jane Enemuo, Oluwaseun Adeleke, Elizabeth M. Ohadi, Awa D. Dieng, and John S. Osika
Published: 9/1/2012

Resource Description:

“The goal of this assessment was to evaluate the Routine Health Information System (RHIS) in Imo state. Objectives were to identify the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) unit in the state and its local government areas (LGAs) with a view to identifying risks that pose a threat to the implementation of the District Health Information System (DHIS) version two (v2) software in the state. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) previously selected the DHIS v1 as its software of choice for routine data management but owing to an upgrade of the software, is considering adoption and migration of the country to the DHIS v2 platform. Implementation of DHIS v2 is intended to improve the flow of data from the LGAs to the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and subsequently the FMOH.

The assessment was conducted through a questionnaire-based survey and key informant interviews of staff of the Imo SMOH HMIS unit and the health departments of five selected LGAs. Trained data collectors administered questionnaires that assessed the technical, organizational, and behavioral determinants of the HMIS unit at these two levels of health management.

Our assessment of the state’s entire HMIS system found that the system is under-functioning and will need the support of the leadership of the SMOH and LGA health departments to help refocus the system for an efficient disease surveillance outcome. Effort should be made for the appropriate budgetary allocation and human resource support to achieve the unit’s goals.”