southern sudan health system assessment - Health Systems 20/20

county-level data on burden of disease and resource allocation can lead to a redirection of available
resources.
5.5.5 USE OF DATA FOR DECISION-MAKING
Producing data is ineffective if health care actors, such as doctors, hospital managers, nurses, financial
administrators, and program managers, do not use the data. The rationale for producing data is to use it
for programming, budgeting, and forecasting, which in turn impact the efficiency of the use of funds and
helps inform decisions, whether they concern the health of the patients or the human resource force.
Southern Sudan not only lacks the capacity to produce data, but also to analyze and use data for
decision-making.
5.5.6 MOH POLICIES REGARDING HIS
Recognizing the need for implementing an HIS, the MoH/GoSS plans to (Lomoro 2007):
• Develop a national M&E framework and implementation guidelines/manual, including development of
a comprehensive national M&E database, and strengthened capacity and institutional infrastructure at
the MoH/GoSS to enhance management of M&E programs in Southern Sudan.
• Establish a functional, effective, and efficient health management information system including review
and standardization of indicators and reporting formats/tools, and transfer all existing health
databases to the MoH/GoSS.
• Enhance effective coordination and partnership.
However, it is not clear at present if there will be any links between the M&E and HIS systems.
The M&E/Health System Directorate has initiated the development of an M&E strategy. A workshop
facilitated by the directorate was held in January 2007. It engaged the state MoH representatives and all
partner agencies in the process of defining priorities and mechanisms for implementing an M&E system
framework.
The MoH is in the process of developing an M&E system in collaboration with USAID’s Sudan Health
Transformation Project. The medium-term objectives of this work are to build a national framework for
M&E, conduct a rapid assessment of the M&E system at the state level, and develop a one-year action
plan for implementation. The M&E system will focus on five interventions: reproductive health,
HIV/AIDS, IMCI, malaria, and TB. Among other activities is the development of a uniform reporting
format and procedures for routine HIS:
• Data collection tools developed: daily patient register, monthly morbidity summary form, antenatal
care (ANC) register, maternal delivery register, monthly ANC summary register, immunization form
(UNICEF), staffing report, personnel training register, inventory register, water and sanitation form.
• Training manuals developed: trainee manual, trainers’ manual, M&E supervision tools, and baseline
assessment tools.
Among the existing plans is the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Plan of Action for
Southern Sudan, which is being revised and updated. The IDSR will build on the existing EWARN. IDSR
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