Tag: Tanzania
Using electronic immunization registry data to demonstrate the value of digital systems
Sep 23, 2020
A growing number of countries have embraced electronic immunization registries (EIRs) that enable data-driven decision-making. To better shape the value proposition for countries using or considering using EIRs, the BID Initiative has started a new scope of work led by a global BID Analytics team that will use data from the digital systems in Tanzania. The work builds on previous landscaping and stakeholder conversations held in late 2019 and early 2020, to summarize common immunization barriers and the EIR features that help respond to these challenges.
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Tanzania’s electronic immunization registry rolls out new features to respond to COVID-19
Sep 10, 2020
As COVID-19 rattles many countries and their health systems, Tanzania is turning to its robust network of digital health systems to help curb the pandemic. Under the government’s strong leadership, the Tanzania Immunization Registry (TImR) has been in use since 2017. Now, the country is exploring new features for TImR that will strengthen the system and enable its role in the pandemic response.
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Going beyond denominators: Defining the value of electronic immunization registries to solve for health system barriers
Aug 27, 2020
Data can make the invisible visible. More complete, reliable, and real-time information on health trends, coverage rates, and service gaps can help strengthen health systems and better allocate precious resources. This fact has been recognized by a growing number of countries embracing electronic immunization registries (EIRs) to help monitor individual immunization schedules and vaccination histories. But even as countries adopt EIRs and understand their value, there are many questions about how best to implement them, as well as their effectiveness, cost, and impact on health outcomes.
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Journal article assesses the costs and savings of introducing electronic immunization registries
Aug 7, 2020
As COVID-19 squeezes health systems, clinics and hospitals around the world are finding themselves strained by the global pandemic. Digital and data systems can help countries respond to these evolving health trends and demands. A recent journal article about the BID Initiative, published in the Pan African Medical Journal, assesses the incremental costs of implementing electronic immunization registries (EIRs) in Tanzania and Zambia. Using data from both countries, BID conducted a micro-costing study about the service delivery and logistical costs of EIRs.
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Countries gather in Lusaka for BID Learning Network meeting to strengthen digital and data capacity
Mar 24, 2020
For Silemane Ouedraogo, an Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Data Manager in Burkina Faso, one of the most beneficial parts of the BID Learning Network (BLN) is the opportunity to learn from his peers about the digital health systems and technologies that have worked in their own countries. As countries figure out how to make use of limited resources for their health systems, this country engagement is irreplaceable.
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The costs of electronic immunization registries, sharing BID’s experience to help other countries plan
Mar 17, 2020
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New strategy and systems cement Tanzania’s digital health leadership
Feb 18, 2020
The Government of Tanzania is calling for an end to “pilotitis”—an emphasis on narrowly focused health interventions, small populations, and vertical health programs. Last November, the country made great strides toward this goal and digital transformation with the launch of a new Digital Health Strategy (2019—2024) and a series of systems that will greatly improve coordination between partners in the health sector.
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Publication round-up: BID publishes new costing data, learnings, and best practices
Dec 3, 2019
The BID Initiative is committed to advancing the global evidence base around data quality and use interventions to improve immunization service delivery. Informed by our own progress in Tanzania and Zambia, we recently published a series of journal articles and publications that demonstrate the impact of electronic immunization registries (EIRs) on cost savings, vaccine stock levels, and data quality, among other areas. This is a round-up of recent publications and some of the learnings from each.
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Preparing the health workforce to make the most of data
Aug 5, 2019
For nearly thirty years as a health worker in Tanzania, Salome has used pen and paper to record patient data. A digital transformation promises to streamline her work and improve patient care.
Digital health solutions increase data quality and accessibility, but to be effective and improve patient outcomes, health workers must know how to make the most of the information. For many like Salome, Tanzania’s digital transformation will require retraining and developing new digital literacy skills.
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BID expands to five more regions in Tanzania, accelerating progress
Jun 13, 2019
In Tanzania, the government expanded data quality and use interventions to five more regions, including Mwanza, Njombe, Morogoro, Geita and Lindi. The Tanzania electronic immunization registry (TImR) is now being used in nine regions and 2,060 facilities in 66 districts across the country. It’s an exciting milestone for the BID Initiative because it represents the largest number of regions to implement data quality and use interventions in the shortest period of time.
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