This community innovation has been accepted at the 2025 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Malaria data repository implementation lessons
Malaria elimination efforts require increasingly diverse and complex interventions that are tailored to the specific needs of at risk populations and according to subnational epidemiological profiles. As a result, a broad range of data points and contextual information is needed for national malaria programs to design the most cost effective and impactful interventions. However, relevant data sets are typically scattered across multiple platforms, databases, spreadsheets and other sources, making it difficult to access and analyse information. In response to this growing complexity, the WHO is recommending the establishment of national malaria data repositories (NMDRs), as “one stop shops” providing national programs and partners with access to a diverse range of data sets required to support strategic, operational and logistical decisions. Bluesquare supports NMDR implementations in seven countries, following a structured approach based on a set of standard implementation phases, principles and modules (epidemiological surveillance, stock management, demographics, climate, surveys, entomology, vector control, immunisation, communications, finance, human resources, activity planning, data quality, and community services). First adopted in Burkina Faso, NMDRs are being rolled out in Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Mali, and Niger. We present lessons from their implementation and use in these countries. The majority of NMDRs are deployed in dedicated DHIS2 instances, typically with the open source OpenHEXA platform as middleware for ETL operations and for advanced data processing. Working in collaboration with other NMDR implementers (including PATH and CHAI) and in coordination with WHO and Global Fund, standardised technical and operational guidance is developed, alongside implementation and monitoring tools. A Francophone NMDR community of practice serves as a way to share experience, lessons learned and best practices around NMDR implementation and use.
Primary Author: Bram Piot (Bluesquare)
Keywords:
malaria, surveillance, analysis, stratification, modelling, data use, interoperability, systems integration, data warehouse, routine health information system, climate, Ministry of Health, DHIS2, MetaData Sync, OpenHEXA
2 Likes