Translating Data for Implementation (Data.FI)

Strengthening Health Information Systems Governance and Accelerating Data Analysis and Use in Central America

Data for Implementation (Data.FI) is a global initiative dedicated to aiding countries in fortifying their health information systems and ensuring continuous access to high-quality data, thus accelerating the control of HIV and bolstering global health security. This endeavor revolves around supporting nations in evaluating, building, integrating, and optimizing their information systems, with the ultimate goal of bolstering the utilization of data for prevention, testing, treatment, and epidemiological surveillance, ultimately leading to the enhancement of healthcare services.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC APPROACH

Data for Implementation (Data.FI) is a global initiative dedicated to aiding countries in fortifying their health information systems and ensuring continuous access to high-quality data, thus accelerating the control of HIV and bolstering global health security. This endeavor revolves around supporting nations in evaluating, building, integrating, and optimizing their information systems, with the ultimate goal of bolstering the utilization of data for prevention, testing, treatment, and epidemiological surveillance, ultimately leading to the enhancement of healthcare services.

CONTEXT AND CHALLENGES

The Ministries of Health in Central America face various challenges in securing timely information for decision-makers, technical specialists, and the general population. In response to these challenges, Data.FI presents comprehensive solutions within the data ecosystem that not only align with public health objectives but also safeguard individuals' rights. This encompasses streamlining information requirements, establishing sustainable and scalable data systems that facilitate continuous client care and robust analysis. It entails furnishing analytical tools for decision-making while adhering to evidence-based practices that ensure data serves as a catalyst for meaningful transformations and life-saving actions. Data.FI plays a pivotal role in enhancing the government's capacity for governing information systems and nurturing the capabilities of local partners, aligning with USAID's sustainability objectives.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Data.FI has crafted a logical framework that steers the national strategies for data utilization in HIV control and various other health domains. This framework encompasses a set of priorities and metrics that empower the countries to combat the HIV epidemic and address specific health concerns. Leveraging these metrics, Data.FI supported the implementation of an HIV dashboard offering insights into indicators related to the HIV continuum of care cascade in each country. Data.FI is currently developing version 2.0 of the HIV dashboard, integrating additional data from national-level partners. Simultaneously, Data.FI has convened Technical Working Groups (TWGs) that play an instrumental role in perpetuating these initiatives' sustainability.

These TWGs serve as forums for scrutinizing and documenting processes, data flows, as well as roles and functions directly influencing data collection, management, and accessibility. The insights gleaned from these assessments are employed to evaluate the efficiency and operational guidelines of existing information systems, driving recommendations for improvement. Proposed actions encompass eliminating redundant work and automating processes that were once manual, effectively optimizing systems. This collaborative effort is making significant strides in elevating information management and fortifying analytical capabilities. These endeavors are fortifying health information landscapes, ensuring unfettered access to dependable and timely data for both HIV response and global health security.