The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns regarding the inadequacies in African systems for registering deaths and collecting health data, noting that these gaps hinder the ability of states to anticipate health crises and effectively guide their public health policies.
In a report presented on Tuesday in Nairobi at the opening of the first African Health Data Forum, the organization revealed that many countries on the continent still lack sufficiently reliable mechanisms to record deaths, identify their causes, and utilize information gathered within healthcare facilities.
Of the 40 countries assessed, only 19 reported that authorities were informed of at least 80% of the deaths occurring within their territory.
Furthermore, 21 countries are able to determine the cause of at least 80% of officially registered deaths.
According to Dr. Mohamed Janabi, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, these shortcomings deprive decision-makers of essential information needed to identify the most vulnerable populations and better target health interventions.
“When we do not know the causes of death, which children are being denied essential services, or which communities face the highest health risks, we risk neglecting the very people who need our
attention the most,” he warned.
The report also highlights challenges related to data analysis and quality control. Less than half of the countries assessed – 43% – possess sufficient capacity to analyse health information at the level
of health centres and hospitals. Only one in four countries is able to properly verify the quality of such data at that level.
There are also financial and institutional constraints; only 18% of the countries report having a budget specifically dedicated to health information systems. A lack of qualified personnel, weak coordination mechanisms, and insufficient regular monitoring are among the primary obstacles identified.
Despite these challenges, the continent is making progress in the digitisation of services. Of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region, 43 have adopted digital platforms to collect and transmit
routine health data.
Nigeria illustrates the potential offered by these tools. In Bauchi State, health authorities cross-reference vaccination data with information gathered at the community level to identify children who have not received the vaccines scheduled in the immunisation calendar.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also being explored as a means to accelerate the processing and analysis of medical information.
According to WHO technical officer Dr. Hillary Kipruto, advancements in these technologies now allow for the production – in a matter of moments – of analyses that previously required months of work.
However, he emphasised the need to regulate their use through appropriate legislation and oversight mechanisms to ensure that these innovations are employed responsibly.
The African Health Data Forum, which brings together ministers of health, institutional leaders, and sector partners until November 12, serves as a platform for sharing national experiences and defining strategies to strengthen health information systems.
For the WHO, improving death registration and data utilisation is a critical issue for public health policy in Africa.
The availability of reliable information is essential for better understanding the causes of mortality, identifying populations with inadequate access to health services, and directing resources toward the most urgent needs.
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