The Navrongo Health Research Centre on the 29th of January hosted the Deputy Director General of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Odofo Ofosu as part of his working visit to the region and the Centre.
The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange in the areas of healthcare research and information systems management.
The Director of Navrongo Health Research Centre, Dr. Patrick Ansah in his welcome address expressed appreciation for Dr. Ofosu’s visit. He proceeded to make a presentation which covered the overview of the Centre, ongoing scientific activities in the various departments of the Centre and how the various departments work together to achieve the overall mission of the Centre.
In his interaction with the Centre, Dr. Ofosu thereafter, took time to engage with researchers, scientists and staff of the Centre. His visit was marked by a presentation that delved deeply into the essential topic of utilizing District Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS2) for research purposes.
During his presentation, Dr. Ofosu highlighted that the DHIMS2 as heard is a health information management system that contains routine data from health facilities documenting the interactions between health service providers and clients. He emphasized that the function of the health information management system is to ensure access to healthcare data that aids in patient care leading to informed decision making in health service delivery.
Dr. Ofosu in his presentation noted the importance of the health information management as making health service data visible and accessible for all health service managers for their prompt attention and action to improve performance in health facilities in the various districts and also real time data availability for prompt management decision making.
As part of the engagement, the deputy director mentioned the type of data available on the DHIMS2 software included, combined data by facilities for all services delivered, combined categorized data on human resources by health facilities, data on stock and use of medicines and vaccines, individual level data for admissions in all wards, individual level data for deaths and individual level data for maternity care.
He also noted that data on the DHIMS2 can be used to make prompt management decisions such as monitoring service uptake, performance support decisions, what interventions are working well, how health facilities and districts are implementing interventions, resource allocation, facilities location and training needs decision making.
Dr. Ofosu rounded up his presentation by noting how data on the DHIMS2 can be used for research purposes. He indicated that cross-sectional studies, case control studies, cohort studies and ecological studies are the type of research studies which can utilize the health information management data.
The interactive session at the Pe Addah conference room of NHRC ended with a fruitful exchange of ideas, suggestions and a commitment to ongoing collaboration between the Ghana Health Service and the Navrongo Health Research Centre.