PPFP, LSMOH, HEFAMAA launch digital solutions to enhance effective knowledge sharing

The Post Pregnancy Family Planning project in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) recently launched a digital platform for reporting of Health Management Information (HMIS) data, dashboard for realtime review of Maternal Newborn Child Health (MNCH) indicators, web application for Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Healthcare and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) resources over the weekend in Lagos.

During the launch, director, PPFP project, Dr Taiwo Johnson said the project will support private health facilities to use digital platforms to collect, analyze, and submit data to the DHIS and enable providers to monitor and use their MNCH data to strengthen their clinic services, management, and planning. “The platform will help to improve timeliness and the reporting rate of the private facilities and ensure access to timely, quality data. It will allow private sector providers monitor trends to adjust and continuously improve the quality and responsiveness of their services”.

She further mentioned that a knowledge exchange application with access to quality RMNCAH+N and Family Planning resources was also developed for easy access to up-to-date MNCH and FP information, tools, to allow private sector providers access the technical knowledge they need to provide quality health services. “With this initiative, providers will have more recent information that is tailored to the private sector and can connect with others facing similar challenges. This platform will be domiciled on HEFAMAA’s website and would ensure easy access to current information on healthcare services and best practices for healthcare providers”.

Executive secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu, also informed that the agency is happy to be associated with the initiatives. “This is something we’ve been looking forward to, we believe that collaborating to improve knowledge by accessing our website would improve the quality of health because that is what HEFEMMA stands for. We want to ensure quality of health care services at both public and the private health facilities continue to improve to a stage where they would provide quality services to the citizens of Lagos”.

Head of Health Statistics, Dr Adenike Omosun commended the efforts and commitment of the PPFP project in achieving success on the developed platforms. For the digitalized real-time review of data and reporting dashboards, she said, “sustainability is assured, as LSMOH was carried along from the onset. The dashboards will not only improve the reporting rate of the private sector, but also help them make an informed decision”.

Speaking about the digital solutions, Dr Omotunde Odanye, Technical Officer, service delivery for the PPFP project, also highlighted some benefits which are not limited to; easy access to RMNCAH+N resources and hitch-free data submission for the private sector. “They were submitting data by paper before now but with this platform, it is easier, faster and less hitch. This development is going to be sustainable as long as all stakeholders work together by ensuring continuous upgrades,” she said.

Also, Abosede Adekunle, Head ICT, HEFAMAA, said the State Government can sustain the initiatives. She also informed that, “the platforms are going to be useful in the health sector, we have tested it, necessary corrections have been made. It is going to benefit both the state government and private sector healthcare providers”.

Aigbogun Florence, one of the beneficiary private health providers, said the project had impacted more knowledge and strengthened awareness about family planning. “We want this project to be sustained with my experience in the health sector, this project has been one of the best and we want it to stay,” she said.