This community innovation has been accepted at the 2026 DHIS2 Annual Conference as a digital poster.
Integrating Cancer Registry Data into DHIS2 in TZ
Cancer registration in Tanzania has primarily relied on a facility-based, standalone system (called CanReg5), which has limited real-time data access and hindered case reporting. This project aimed to address this challenge by implementing DHIS2 as a centralized platform for cancer data capture while maintaining compatibility with CanReg5 for detailed registry analysis using KCMC Hospital as a pilot. DHIS2 was customized to align with the Tanzanian cancer registration context and national-level reporting needs. Close collaboration with cancer registrars, the MoH, and other stakeholders guided system configuration, testing, and refinement. Validation checks were applied to ensure data completeness and correctness at the point of entry. The CanReg5 metadata was implemented into the DHIS2 Tracker, enabling standardized cancer data capture aligned with the HMIS reporting system. A functional export module was developed and tested, allowing cancer data to be transferred from DHIS2 into CanReg5 for further registry analysis. Stakeholder demonstrations confirmed that the solution was operational and usable, with positive feedback and constructive inputs received. The system now allows data to be entered once at the facility level and accessed in real time at district, regional, and national levels. Data quality has improved through built in validation rules, eliminating the need for manual data compilation. This project demonstrated that DHIS2 can effectively serve as a centralized platform for cancer data capture while maintaining integration with CanReg5 for detailed registry needs. The pilot implementation has proven successful and is ready for scale up to other cancer registries in Tanzania. Key lessons from this work highlight the importance of system interoperability, local customization, and continuous user involvement in strengthening cancer surveillance and supporting evidence based decision making
Primary Author: Adelphina Gibure
Keywords:
Cancer Registration, DHIS2, CanReg5, Tanzania
Thank you for sharing this excellent work from Tanzania. It is a clear, practical demonstration that DHIS2 can bridge. In South Sudan, we face a similar, if not more acute, challenge. We have a functioning national DHIS2 instance (the District Health Information Software 2) used for aggregate HMIS reporting, and we are beginning to roll out Tracker for individual-level programs like HIV and TB. However, cancer surveillance is almost non-existent. There is no population-based cancer registry, and even facility-based registration happens, at best, on paper registers in a handful of hospitals. The result: we have no reliable data on cancer incidence, types, or outcomes, making it impossible to plan services, allocate resources, or advocate for funding. Cancer is often invisible in our health sector plans.