sahr2001 - Health Systems Trust

6 • Using Information for Health
The rollout process
The national rollout process has a two-pronged approach. The first is aimed
at building the capacity of health care providers to generate and use
information for local action, the second at developing the infrastructure
needed to support implementation of the DHIS.
Building the capacity of health care providers
The national rollout of the DHIS aims at developing a culture of information
use amongst health care workers through the development of knowledge
and skills in data handling in order to create locally relevant information for
use in the management of district level health programmes.
A series of formal and informal training courses, supported by ongoing
workshops has been conducted at district level in all nine provinces. District
and facility level managers, district information officers and data capturers
have been targeted for training.
Generic information systems training course
Training contextualises information systems within a broader health and
social development perspective. The training incorporates both generic and
computer software skills. Front-line data handlers are enabled to develop
skills in aspects of data handling. Service and programme managers are
provided with orientation to the rationale for health information systems as
the tool to focus on the analysis, interpretation and use of information. 4
Software Training
Software training has been targeted at data entry clerks and information
officers. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of good quality data,
regular validation checks, and setting of minimum and maximum ranges.
Short courses in computerised district health information systems have
exposed health managers to the use and benefit of the software as a tool to
generate tables, graphs, maps and reports needed for management decisionmaking.
‘Superusers’, a group of health care providers and information officers with
substantial experience in using the software, have been identified in each
province. These cadres will form the nucleus for supporting sustainability of
software development at a provincial level.
Achievements
“A spotlight in the darkness”, a quote from a participant, encapsulates the
enthusiasm and excitement that these training courses have generated.
Training programmes, based on principles of adult learning and sensitive to
service-related issues use real, local data in exercises and assignments to
facilitate development of concrete knowledge and skill in data handling. The
gradual ownership of data and development of a culture of information use
is evidenced by improved data quality and a post-training commitment to
improve practice.
103