Health Information System Strengthening in Zambia

The Zambian health sector has in the recent past experienced increasing demand for quality and comprehensive health information to support implementation of health programs. Health reforms have been focused on strengthening the six building blocks of the health system. Health Information Systems (HIS) is a key building block and as such the Ministry of Health and its Partners embarked on efforts to review and strengthen the routine Health Management Information System in 2005 using tools adapted from the Health Metrics Network (HMN)/HIS.

Further in 2006, Zambia embarked on efforts to appraise the country HIS under the SWAp framework with technical and financial support from the HMN Secretariat which facilitated development and finalization of the Assessment tool and conducting the Assessment.  The Assessment revealed Zambia has many data sources but lack coordination, harmonization, effective utilization. Vital statistics are affected by lack of mechanisms and capacity for data collection, analyses and utilization for policy and planning. To address these gaps, MOH, CSO, National Registration Office (NRO), and other Partners developed a comprehensive Sector Health Information System Strategic Plan (HISSP) that covers a 7 year period from 2009 to 2015 and closely aligned to the 2006 -2010 NHSP.

The HISSP comprises 10 strategies including:  improving HIS functions; strengthening the national role, reputation and authority of HIS; increasing availability and use of resources; increasing data completeness and timely reporting among all stakeholders ; strengthening data quality by integrating and harmonizing data sources; strengthening analysis and use of data for decision-making; expanding the availability and use of ICT; improving HR information sub-system and providing reliable, timely and complete mortality and cause-of-death data.

MoH is committed to HISSP implementation through working with all stakeholders and to this effect, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HMN Secretariat in  2008, which qualified Zambia as a Wave one country.