The World Health Organization (WHO) said many African countries face gaps in recording deaths and in collecting and interpreting health information, according to a new report launched at the First African Health Data Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
The forum opened Tuesday and brings together health ministers, senior officials and other stakeholders. It runs through Thursday. UN News said quality health data can help authorities identify emerging threats and take lifesaving action.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Countries reporting authorities are notified of at least 8 in 10 deaths | 19 of 40 assessed |
| Countries recording a cause for at least 8 in 10 registered deaths | 21 of 40 assessed |
| Countries with capacity to analyze data at clinic and hospital level | Fewer than half (43%) |
| Countries with a dedicated health information budget | 18% |
| WHO Africa Region countries with a digital reporting platform | 43 of 47 |
“When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa.
The report assessed 40 countries. Of those, 19 reported that authorities are notified of at least eight in 10 deaths. A slightly larger group, 21, record a cause for at least eight in 10 of the deaths that are registered.
Many countries also struggle to make sense of the data they collect. Fewer than half of the countries (43%) have enough capacity to analyze health data at the level of clinics and hospitals. Only one in four can check its quality at that level.
The report found that many countries are still at an early stage in building the systems and skills needed for reliable health information. It named governance and finance as major challenges, with only 18% of countries reporting a dedicated budget for health information systems. Other weaknesses include coordination, routine data-quality checks and the availability of trained professionals.
The report also noted progress. The WHO Africa Region has 47 countries, and 43 of them have adopted a digital platform for collecting and reporting routine health information. In Nigeria’s Bauchi state, health authorities used vaccination data and community-level information to identify children who had missed routine vaccinations.
Forum participants are to review the report’s findings, share experiences and identify solutions. Discussions will also examine how digital health, artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations can strengthen health information systems and support health care services.
Dr. Hillary Kipruto, a WHO technical officer, told UN News that AI has affected health care. “The power for diagnostics has leapfrogged,” he said. He added that analysis that once took months can now produce a report at the click of a button, and that countries need legislation and frameworks to allow responsible use of AI.
The AI wrote only from the sources listed. No human reporter was involved. Read our standards or compare the models in the AI Report Card.