Nairobi:African countries have been urged to enhance their health information systems and invest in reliable data to improve healthcare planning, resource allocation, and service delivery. This call was made during the inaugural Africa Health Data Forum held in Nairobi, which gathered governments, health experts, development partners, technical institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, the forum, themed ‘Better Data, Better Health for All,’ is concentrating on improving the availability, quality, and use of health data across African countries, while addressing persistent gaps in health information systems. Participants highlighted the importance of reliable and timely data in identifying population health needs, planning effective services, and ensuring resources reach the most in-need communities.
Dr. Arash Rashidian, Acting Director of the Health Systems and Life Course Department at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized the need for countries to transition from fragmented data systems to integrated, country-owned digital infrastructure to achieve health equity. He noted that true health equity across Africa begins with reliable, actionable data and the evolution of health systems towards unified digital architectures.
The forum is also reviewing progress made by seven African countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, including Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia. These countries, with a combined population of nearly 250 million people, have invested in health data generation, digitalization, analytics, and utilization. However, progress remains uneven, with ongoing gaps in data availability, quality, accessibility, and application, as well as the capacity of health information systems to meet emerging health needs.
Challenges are particularly significant in conflict-affected and emergency settings, where inadequate information can leave communities underserved and limit access to essential healthcare services. Dr. Adham Ismail, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, stressed the importance of effective disease surveillance in areas where health facilities have been disrupted by conflict. He called for strengthened civil registration and vital statistics systems to ensure the recording of every birth and death, including its cause.
The forum is also advocating for enhanced disease surveillance, better-equipped health workers, and interconnected health information systems to enable early detection and effective response to public health threats. Participants are expected to identify country-led commitments to bridge data gaps, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and improve the use of available resources in addressing health inequalities.
