Health ministry launches revised information system tools

By Billy Rwothungeyo

In an effort to have a single, integrated information system that will lead to a single monitoring and evaluation system, the Ministry of Health has launched revised Health Management Information System (HMIS) tools.

Dr. Mukooyo Edward, the Assistant Commissioner of health services resource centre said among many other new features, the new tools will provide data to stakeholders in distinctive ways.

“Stakeholders have been given access rights, this system has been developed in such a way that it has a dash board—so you can view graphs, tables on what is happening in your catchment area,” explained Mukooyo at the official launch in Kampala.

He also said that different partners supporting public health facilities in various initiatives will be required to use these new tools in a move that is expected to ensure the accuracy of health statistics in the country.

“They must support approved district work plans, not use their own. We do not anticipate that partners will use their own programmes,” Mukooyo said.

Dr. Ezaati Isaac, the director health services in charge of planning and development at the ministry urged different stakeholders to work in tandem to ensure that the tools are used to better service delivery in the country.

“I appeal to all our partners to support the health sector to improve its data management practices, improve data quality and strengthen the national monitoring and evaluation system,” he said in remarks read for him Dr. Driwale Alfred, Koboko district’s district health officer.

Driwale appealed to the ministry to make the work of health workers in the districts easier by promoting the one stop centre for information.

“Let us have one system, so that we do not go to one website, jump to another, and get lost in a third one,” he said.

Other specific objectives of the new tools are to align the indicators of the health ministry’s technical programmes, health development partners and the private sector with the information system.

The processes of the review of the HMIS tools were initiated last year in November.