Routine Health Information Network
- 1. The RHINO Safari: Moving Routine Health Information Systems into Higher Gear MEASURE Evaluation Symposium Alexandria, VA February 20, 2008
- 2. Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS) Facility-based and ideally also community-based data collection Main source of information for planning and management of quality health services at district level and below Main provider of information on service delivery and use of resources to national and global levels Ideal tool for integrated management of health interventions Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 3. Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure Unfortunately, RHIS in most developing countries are woefully inadequate to generate information support As a result Poor use of information by users at all levels: care providers as well as managers Reliance on infrequent survey data collection methods whose findings are relevant only to national and global levels So the right question is: How can we improve the RHIS performance and use of information in support of planning and management of quality district health systems?
- 4. Some of the lessons learned Based on 20 years of country experiences Need for standardized data generation architecture Need for well defined RHIS performance criteria: Production of relevant and quality information Continued use of information for DM at all levels Need for better understanding of factors influencing RHIS performance: the PRISM framework Need for advocacy and capacity building Become a RHINO Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 5. Creation of RHINO (2001): The Routine Health Information NetwOrk Network of organizations and professionals concerned with improving the quality and sustainability of RHIS in developing countries Funding mainly through USAID (MEASURE Evaluation) Currently 600+ members from 60+ countries Ministries of Health Bilateral and multilateral donor agencies Consulting agencies and NGOs Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 6. RHINO Mission To advocate for improved practices of RHIS design and implementation in LDCs To advocate for use of routine health information for evidence-based decision making To advance the state of the art in routine health information systems (RHIS) To contribute to capacity building efforts in RHIS strengthening Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 7. RHINO: summary of activities (2001-2007) Networking: International Workshops Website with moderated listserv: www.rhinonet.org Collaboration with WHO/World Bank/HMN Research and Development Development of PRISM framework Capacity building International PRISM courses in South Africa, Mexico and Senegal RHINO forums on SOTA topics Consultants database Knowledge management Annotated bibliography on RHIS Publications Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 8. Is RHINO sustainable beyond MEASURE Evaluation? RHINO: too heavily dependent upon USAID funding Creation of an independent NGO Registered as NGO in Massachusetts in December 2006 Diversified Board of Directors established Draft business plan ready for development of a sustainable fund raising strategy Operationalize collaboration with the Health Metrics Network (HMN) Involvement of other technical agencies working on RHIS reform Adding R&D strength to the Network Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure
- 9. The RHINO safari in high gear… Symposium 2008 www.cpc.unc.edu/measure