This community innovation has been accepted at the 2026 DHIS2 Annual Conference as a physical poster.
DHIS2 based Child Mortality Surveillance system
Background and rationale: In many countries, DHIS2-based surveillance systems operate as standalone solutions, limiting interoperability, sustainability, and effective use of health data. In Sri Lanka, under-five child death surveillance is a critical national public health function requiring integration within a broader digital public health infrastructure. The existing DHIS2 Tracker-based system functioned in parallel with other national platforms, resulting in fragmented workflows and reduced efficiency. System design and integration approach: This study describes the integration of a redesigned DHIS2 Tracker-based under-five child death surveillance system into Sri Lanka’s national digital public health infrastructure. The redesign was guided by digital public infrastructure principles, including platform reuse, government ownership, interoperability, and sustainability. Surveillance workflows were aligned with existing national DHIS2 platforms while ensuring compliance with national data protection and governance requirements. Implementation: The optimized tracker was developed and tested in a controlled DHIS2 environment and integrated into the national digital health platform supporting maternal and child health surveillance. Integration was achieved without disrupting ongoing surveillance activities by leveraging existing DHIS2 infrastructure, user management, and governance mechanisms. Role-based access controls, documentation, and operational guidelines supported long-term system management. Outcomes and implications: Integration improved coherence across national surveillance systems, reduced duplication of effort, and strengthened the use of mortality data for public health decision-making. This case study demonstrates how DHIS2, as a digital public good, can function as a shared national platform supporting sustainable, sovereign, and integrated mortality surveillance.
Primary Author: Sachitra Prabath Wijethunga
Keywords:
DHIS2, child mortality surveillance, under-five mortality, digital public health infrastructure, digital public good, health information systems, DHIS2 tracker, national surveillance systems, interoperability, digital health governance, public health data integration, low- and middle-income countries, Sri Lanka, maternal and child health, health data systems