Pape Gaye, IntraHealth’s president and CEO, discussed the challenges of building sub-Saharan Africa’s capacity in health care and information communication technology (ICT) at the Public Health Informatics conference in Seattle, Washington, on September 19. Gaye spoke as part of the plenary session “Decision Support for Public Health and Policy Development: Building Capacity and Sustainability.”
Gaye explained how IntraHealth’s Human Resources Information System (HRIS) development follows a systems strengthening approach. Gaye highlighted IntraHealth’s role in creating the Capacity Project’s Human Resources for Health Global Resource Center as well as the organization’s growing leadership in Health Workforce Informatics. Gaye suggested several areas for future development, including:
Gaye concluded with the following points:
Pape Gaye, IntraHealth’s President and CEO, recently participated in the Rockefeller Institute’s Bellagio Conference, Making the eHealth Connection. The conference brought thought leaders together to explore the use of public health informatics and national health information systems to improve health care in developing countries. Attendees included representatives from International NGOs, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, countries throughout the world, and the symposium organizer, the University of Washington’s Center for Public Health Informatics.
Conference participants agreed that a weak infrastructure continues to challenge health care advancement in poorer areas, but the use of extant technologies such as cell phones and targeted development of internet-based solutions hold considerable promise in improving people’s access to health care.
IntraHealth’s Human Resources Information System (HRIS) development raised considerable interest. Developed for the USAID-funded Capacity Project, the HRIS strengthening process includes a suite of low-cost Open Source software solutions designed to be adaptable to countries’ varying HRIS needs. Other emerging workshop themes included using technology in emergency areas and for decision support, as well as using it to gather and disseminate evidence in policy development and to support front-line providers.
Participants at the workshop identified five key areas for advancing public health through informatics:
In September, Dr. Pamela McQuide, a member of the HRIS Strengthening team, participated in the East, Central and Southern Africa Directors’ Joint Consultative Committee Meeting to share the use and results of human resources information systems (HRIS) in the region. She emphasized the need for accurate and timely data to make informed decisions about the health sector. Delegates from Swaziland and Uganda publicly lauded the Capacity Project’s HRIS work. Swaziland’s chief nursing officer commented, “I use the database every day. I am no longer confused about where the nurses work, and it is up to date.” A resolution resulting from the meeting included a recommendation for member countries to develop a comprehensive HRIS and ensure the use of data to inform policy and improve HR management.
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