Mukono– During the orientation, participants were cautioned against poor-quality data entry, which undermines effective decision-making and service delivery. Emphasis was placed on the importance of collecting complete, accurate, timely, and reliable data as a foundation for effective health planning and resource allocation.
The training focused on improving the collection, analysis, and use of household-level health indicators through the eCHIS digital platform. Participants were equipped with practical skills to support informed decision-making in immunisation, Primary Health Care (PHC), and broader community health interventions.
The engagement was funded by UNICEF through Mukono District Local Government as part of ongoing efforts to address persistent bottlenecks in data utilization at community and health facility levels. District officials noted that strengthening data systems is critical to improving accountability, targeting services to vulnerable populations, and enhancing overall health system performance.
The key objective of the orientation was to promote the strategic use of eCHIS data beyond routine reporting. The training aimed to bridge gaps between community-level data and facility-based planning while enhancing leadership decision-making and accountability across VHTs, health facilities, and district health teams.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ddamba Henry, Ms. Nambooze Fulatu commended UNICEF and the District Health Team for organizing the capacity-building engagement. She emphasized that reliable data is the backbone of effective service delivery, noting that the district can only plan effectively, allocate resources appropriately, and account for results when data collected is complete, accurate, timely, and reliable.
Ms. Nambooze highlighted that the eCHIS platform is a powerful tool for transitioning from fragmented, paper-based reporting to a digital, household-level, evidence-based health information system. She noted that this transition will enable the district to identify real health challenges at household and community levels and respond to them more effectively.
She further stressed that poor-quality data compromises the entire health system, reminding participants that the quality of decisions made is directly dependent on the quality of data entered. She urged all trainees to take the training seriously, apply the skills acquired, and uphold data integrity in their daily work, assuring them of continued district support in strengthening the digital health system.
The eCHIS platform serves as a digital job aid for community health workers, enabling passive reporting while consolidating multiple health program functionalities into a single, government-owned system. It is interoperable with Ministry of Health platforms such as eHMIS/DHIS2, enhancing referrals, commodity accountability, reporting, and disease surveillance.
District leaders were also encouraged to use eCHIS data for decision-oriented actions, including identifying villages with high zero-dose immunisation burdens, tracking overdue immunisations, monitoring non-functional VHTs, following up referrals, and identifying underserved populations. Evidence shows that districts that consistently utilize eCHIS data perform better on District Performance Indicators, particularly in health outcomes.
Mukono District Local Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening digital health systems and promoting data-driven decision-making to improve health outcomes for all communities. The district emphasized that sustained use of accurate and reliable eCHIS data will enhance planning, accountability, and service delivery, ultimately contributing to a more responsive and efficient health system for the people of Mukono.
