Description of Session
The Kenyan health sector has numerous health information systems (HIS) innovations that lack orchestration towards integration and require robust structures and processes based on standards. To sustain gains made beyond the project life, a USAID funded project (Health Informatics Governance and Data Analytics - HIGDA) HIGDA supported the creation of Digital Health Applied Research Centre (DHARC ) within a local and indigenous higher learning institution in Kenya – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).as a HIS support system for the MOH to provide technical support in implementation of systems and use of health data for program management. This mechanism will contribute to efficiencies along the healthcare value chain and improve health outcomes. The presentation will discuss the journey of setting up DHARC. The MOH identified in its strategic plan 2018-2023, the need to establish two digital labs within local learning institutions to act as long term innovation centers. Support to DHARC included infrastructure, governance structures, marketing and resource mobilization, and curriculum development for skills building. JKUAT has formalized partnership with Council of Governors ((COG) the intergovernmental forum that plays a liaison role between the national and 47 county governments)), Kenya School of Government ((KSG) leadership and management training institution for public servants))., Private Sector (Huawei and Phillips), and MOH. The COG is the intergovernmental forum that plays a liaison role between the national and 47 county governments. The KSG is the leadership and management training institution for public servants. The services offered at the DHARC include skills strengthening and mentoring (Informatics, Data Analytics, Data Demand & Information Use, and Geographic Information Systems - GIS), Webinar, GIS, Systems Testing, compliance, and certification evaluation, and systems interoperability demonstration. The DHARC is a central reference lab for the MOH and will reduce further overall costs in HIS investments.
