Data Archives - eHealth Africa

By Emmanuel Uko

Building and optimizing software applications to improve public health outcomes is at the core of eHealth Africa’s work. With the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) application, the organization went beyond optimizing the app to redesigning a new process flow for vaccination data capture. The redesign of an optimized process flow was necessary as research shows that inadequate health data is a challenge in Nigeria due to unintentional duplication, lack of synchronization and dearth of data storage systems.

The quality of data collection tools and the uncoordinated nature of the collection process compounded the data challenges, thus the need for a redesigned data collection process flow. eHA’s Technical Project Manager, Software Engineering, Dayo Akinleye said, “The redesigned process flow was necessary because the new process eliminates the possibility of duplicate records for offline users; utilizes the current quick response (QR) code for easy identification and seamless operation; and eliminates redundant information generated on the Public Registration portal (PubReg). The old process flow used the KoboCollect platform, so it did not have these capabilities. It was also unable to synchronize with the District Health Information Software (DHIS2).”

*Former process flow with the old EMID application*
Image: eHA

*New process flow with the native (optimized) EMID application*
Image: eHA

Both process flows allow users to register via the PubReg portal and receive registration ID before visiting the vaccination center to receive the vaccine. At the vaccination site, both processes allow for manual registration of clients into the EMID physical register, and receive a vaccination card with QR code.

*eHA’s EMID Project Manager, Stephanie Okpere (right), during a Strategy Group meeting at NPHCDA Headquarters, Abuja.*
Photo Credit: eHA

Tope Falodun, eHA’s Associate Project Manager on the EMID project, affirmed that “the new process departs from the old as it allows for instant validation of clients once registered. Upon successful validation, the optimized EMID system generates a vaccination ID for clients that register at the physical site. For those who register via PubReg, their registration ID is replaced with the vaccination ID, eliminating duplicates, unlike the old system. The new vaccination ID is generated from the QR code for both online and offline clients to avoid duplicate registration. If the registration on the optimized (native) app is unsuccessful, the error message redirects the user to the specific item that needs to be updated or corrected. After correcting the error message the recorder saves the information to complete the registration and validation process.”

*EMID Recorder for Isale-Agbara PHC, Egunsola Ayobami (middle), at the pre-deployment training of the native (optimized) EMID application in Osogbo, Osun State*
Photo Credit: eHA

End users have found the new process flow more responsive than the old one, and better fit for purpose. As the EMID Recorder at Isale-Agbara Primary Healthcare Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, Egunsola Ayobami, confirmed, “one of the important variations from the old system is the ability to validate a client instantly, making the work easier and faster. It is also easier to use. When in doubt, I now know how to contact helpdesk, and their responses are instant,” he concluded.

Deployment of the native EMID application across Nigeria, with its optimized process flow, guarantees seamless data capture, storage and real-time retrieval.

eHA’s areas of expertise are data management, project logistics, infrastructure and ICT services, working in the following focus areas: health delivery, public health emergency management, disease surveillance, laboratory and diagnostics, and nutrition and food security.

By Emmanuel Uko

The Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) system was designed to facilitate the overall management of immunization data and other programs at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) including vaccination scheduling, real-time entry of clients’ data, and collation, analysis, and validation of such data.

The health sector depends heavily on data for planning. To ascertain how well a country’s immunization plans and implementation are going, adequate information is necessary. The World Health Organization states that immunization data helps to monitor improvements in vaccination trends and identify gaps for its surveillance processes. More so, there is a consensus among vaccination stakeholders that real-time data reporting has allowed decision-makers to follow-up on the unvaccinated and forecast needs for supplies.

Since March 2022, eHealth Africa (eHA), has supported the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria to optimize the functionality of the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) System. This optimization is funded by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). They identified the need to fill up the vaccination data gap, after seeing lapses in the primary data capture tool – the EMID application. Users of the unoptimized app expected more than it was offering. Dr Oyetunde Olasunboye, the Osun State EMID Focal Person said, “the functionality of the system declined noticeably and would sometimes become difficult to input client’s information, search for, or confirm clients’ details. More so, it became increasingly difficult to scan a client’s quick response (QR) code, although this was mostly dependent on the device at the user’s disposal.” These errors adversely affected the application’s functionality.

These inadequacies gave rise to the need for optimization of the EMID application to enable it function at its best for end users at health facilities. “We developed a roadmap for an optimized application that would be scalable country-wide. We built and deployed the optimized application, we conducted training and capacity-building activities for NPHCDA EMID team at national and state levels, and recorders at the PHCs, in preparation to hand over the optimized system to the agency”. Said Stephanie Okpere, eHA’s EMID Project Manager.

Similarly, Kasim Sani, a Network support staff at NPHCDA ICT Unit, said this about the optimized helpdesk: “The new setup has made our work more responsive to clients’ needs. We are able to detect and resolve issues more promptly and applications can now be deployed on the server seamlessly.”

In preparation for the deployment of the optimized app, eHA trained 351 users including recorders, EMID focal persons at State and Local Government levels, and piloted its use across selected states within the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. From each of the states, eHA selected one rural Local Govermment Area (LGA), one urban LGA and one LGA with poor internet connectivity.

In collaboration with the ICT Unit at NPHCDA, eHA also trained users on help desk use and structure for issue resolution, support process flow, roles and responsibilities of the support tiers, and the use of support channels like email, Whatsapp and phone lines. Specifically, the training focused on how to download and log into the application, how to conduct online and offline mode check, searching, filtering and updating of records, manual syncing, import and export of records. Participants were also shown how to navigate to the help section and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the native application. The optimized application ensures seamless management of vaccination data at national and subnational levels.

Tag: Data

In Nigeria, eHealth Africa Optimizes Systems for Seamless Vaccination Data Collection and Retrieval

Optimizing the National Electronic Management of Immunization (EMID) Data Tool for Improved Efficiency

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