The National Data Management Center for health (NDMC) Hosts High Level Conference
The National Data Management Centre for health (NDMC) has hosted a conference themed ‘Data for Better Health’ on August 19th and 20th, 2021 at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) grand hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nearly 300 representatives from MoH, EPHI, other governmental, non-governmental institutions including universities, researchers and experts have attended the conference in-person and virtually. The conference has covered the following subthemes;- 1) Health sector significance on NDMC, 2) National Health Data systems success and challenges 3) Transforming health data analytics using cutting edge techniques 4) Highlights of Sub-national disease burden estimates from GBD 2019 study 5) Grand Ethiopian Reinsurance Dam (GERD) and Health 6) Strengthening and Establishing Collaboration and Partnership & 7) Recognition and Acknowledgement. The center’s senior researchers, advisor, unit leaders and experts gave oral presentations on the sub-themes followed by interactive open discussion involving conference participants. The presentations were moderated by Dr. Munir Kassa, Ministerial advisor, MoH; Prof. Wakgari Dressa, Advisor for PPMED, MoH; Dr. Atkure Defar, senior researcher and delegate of EPHI’s Health Systems and Reproductive Health directorate director; and Mr. Aschalew Abayneh, Deputy Director-General of EPHI.
Highlights of the centre’s activity and research findings were presented with poster presentation, audio-visual platforms and in exhibitions. The center’s web based digital platforms on interactive data analytics, modelling, forecasting of COVID 19, tracking Sustainable Development Goals and Health Sector Transformation plan, on data science; data repository, governance and data archiving practices were exhibited and demonstrated. Former MoH and EPHI leaders, collaborators and partners who have been supporting the centre in one way or another including those who shared their data to the repository were officially recognised and acknowledged. The scientific researches on ‘GERD and its Health implication’ have given insight on the pros and cons of GERD and dams in relation to public health. .The second day of the conference was dedicated to making discussions with high level delegates from the regional health bureaus, regional public health institutes and Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSS). The discussions focused on establishing and supporting health data systems in collaboration with the parties.
Honourable Dr. Lia Tadesse- Minister of MoH and Dr. Getachew Toller- Deputy Director-General of EPHI have given keynote speeches and opening remarks respectively. Honourable Professor Mohsen Naghavi from IHME has delivered his keynote speech with a pre-recorded video. Prominent personnel and keynote speakers of the event were Her excellency Semira Abdella, Social Affairs delegate from the house of representative, honourable Dr.Dereje Duguma State Minister for health, Mr. Aschalew Abayneh Deputy Director-General of EPHI, Ministerial Advisors and, honourable Dr. Ebba Abate, former Director of EPHI were among prominent guests who attended the conference.