This community innovation has been accepted at the 2026 DHIS2 Annual Conference and will be included a session.
Liberia DHIS2 MNS Data for Decisions, Research
Background: Liberia’s Ministry of Health and The Carter Center identified the absence of routine mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) data as a critical gap for planning, supportive supervision, and performance monitoring. Early reporting relied on a project extract from the Patient Encounter Form with limited aggregation and feedback. Approach: Through advocacy and technical assistance with the Ministry of Health, The Carter Center integrated a small, actionable MNS indicator set into DHIS2. We harmonized definitions, simplified reporting workflows, strengthened capacity through training and supportive supervision, and institutionalised dashboard reviews with action tracking. Results: Integration improved visibility and reduced reliance on parallel systems. National MNS consultation rates increased from near zero in 2007–2010 to about 1,354 per 100,000 in 2025. Reporting broadened beyond epilepsy to include depression, psychosis, anxiety, substance use disorders, developmental or behavioral disorders, and self-harm. Facility submissions rose from 332 in 2011 to 495 in 2012, peaked at 514 in 2017, declined to 320 in 2023, and recovered to 386 in 2025. Visualizations enabled triangulation to track Ebola and COVID-19 disruptions alongside workforce and commodity readiness, informing targeted supervision and medicine resupply. Data triangulation and research: DHIS2 time series were triangulated with workforce and logistics data to assess whether training and deployment align with utilization gains and to identify bottlenecks. In the TB REACH TB–MNS evaluation, comparative DHIS2 analysis found a 13% additional increase in TB case detection in the intervention group relative to its comparator, informing cascade analyses. Lessons and relevance: Measurable impact requires routine analysis, visualization, and follow-up. The approach is transferable to routine programs, one-shot activities, and outbreak response where timely, integrated data are essential.
Primary Author: JOHN MIKE Mulbah
Keywords:
DHIS2; mental health; MNS; routine reporting; dashboards; data visualization; data quality; supportive supervision; outbreak resilience; triangulation; workforce; logistics; TB REACH; TB case detection; TB and MNS integration; Liberia
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