MoU signed for 19 Million Birr fund intended for Data System development at Regional Health Bureaus and Regional Public Health Institutes in Ethiopia, October 21, 2021
The National Data Management Center for health (NDMC) at EPHI has signed a MoU with all Regional Health Bureaus, City Administrations and all Regional Public Health Institutes a fund amounting 19 Million Birr. The fund is intended to support the establishment of centralized health data systems and digital platforms for achieving health and health related data, analyzing health data, generating evidence and for evidence translation. Dr. Getachew Tollera, Deputy Director General of the EPHI has signed the MoU with heads of 1) Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa City administration health bureau, 2) Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Harare and Oromia Health bureau and 3) Amahara, Sidama and SNNP Region Public Health Institutes. In his speech, his Excellency Dr. Getachew emphasized the importance of this seed fund for establishing data systems and to strengthen collaboration with the regions to generate valid and representative data to inform resource allocation, to show underlying disparities and to strengthen evidence based decision at all levels. Dr. Awoke Misganaw, Advisor of NDMC has presented the importance of strengthening collaboration with the regions to produce valid and reliable disease burden estimates at sub-national levels. Dr. Alemnesh H. Mirkuzie, coordinator of the Center has given a presentation on Building robust National and sub-national Health Data systems. She has shared the experiences of NDMC and details of the components covered in this seed fund. Finally, brief orientation on financial accounting and progress monitoring were provided to regional technical focals by Grant Management experts, Mr. Hussien Faris and NDMC project coordinator, Mr. Melaku Temselew.