News

A University of Botswana Computer Science lecturer, Mr Kagiso Ndlovu, has been appointed chairman of the Botswana Health Data Collaborative (BHDC) Digital Health Technical Working Group (TWG).

The BHDC whose aim is to rally all key stakeholders towards a common Health Sector Information and Monitoring and Evaluation system was launched by the health sector through the stewardship of the Ministry of Health and Wellness on March 10, 2020.

The sector proposed governance structures one of which is the Digital Health TWG. UB was identified to lead the Digital Health TWG with Mr Ndlovu, who is also the University’s eHealth Research Unit Coordinator, serving as chairman of a multi-stakeholder team for two years until March 31, 2022.

TWGs play a key role in the implementation of priorities they identify based on the recommendations of the Health Information System Assessment Report. Therefore, the mandate of Mr Ndlovu’s multi-stakeholder team is to develop policy guidelines or strategies to guide digital health in Botswana.

The team is further mandated to institutionalise knowledge translation platforms bringing together researchers and policy makers to foster uptake of digital health research evidence in policy. In addition, its work is to establish a single Integrated District Health Information System (DHIS2) as the default reporting system with other systems exporting data to it besides development of electronic medical record system (EMRs) following global best practice and as per the defined country Standard Operating Procedures.

The team is also charged with enhancing interoperability of existing EMRs, establishing a health data repository and linkages with Africa Health observatory as well as capacity building and technical assistance to health teams at both district and national levels on key areas of digital health.