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.
Capacity Project human resources information systems (HRIS) team leader Dykki Settle recently presented the iHRIS software at two international conferences dedicated to health information systems (HIS): the World Health Organization’s “Framework for Interoperability for Public Health Tools Meeting” in Geneva, Switzerland, and the joint Health Informatics Association of South Africa and OpenMRS regional conference in Durban, South Africa. The first meeting focused on the need and opportunities for integrating national HIS tools, while the second forum emphasized facility-based clinical HIS, especially patient care and records management. Participants in the Geneva workshop lauded the Project’s disciplined software development approach and recognized the iHRIS software as a best practice. Discussions from that conference regarding interoperability have already led to work in Tanzania geared toward integrating the iHRIS software with the District Health Information System. Additional conversations are planned with a variety of health informatics development teams to align activities in countries where the Project is working to strengthen HRIS.
The XVII International AIDS Conference ends today in Mexico City. Yesterday, the Conference issued a press release underscoring the natural alliance between the response to AIDS and the efforts to strengthen health systems in developing countries.
From the press release:
Speakers at the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) today underscored the importance of simultaneously scaling up AIDS programmes and strengthening health systems in poor countries, emphasizing that the two goals should be viewed as allies, not adversaries. Experts warned that the global shortage of health care workers hampers both goals and demands a collective response. They also stressed the importance of expanding the role of people living with HIV in the planning and provision of health care as a part of the solution.
We know that the AIDS epidemic has taxed the health systems of many affected countries by depleting the health workforce due to illness and death. Strengthening efforts such as HRIS strengthening help health officials recognize where the workforce is lacking and more effectively deploy needed workers with the right skills to the places where they are most needed.
On Thursday, the Conference held a Special Session on strengthening health systems through the AIDS response. The purpose of the Special Session was to explore different perspectives on the current debate as to whether and how HIV-specific funding is contributing to strengthening health systems on a global scale.
What is happening with HRIS Strengthening? Get news about our ongoing work in the field, find out when new features and releases of the software are available, learn more about human resource information systems, and join the conversation. Your comments and questions are welcome.