Significant human and financial resources have been invested worldwide in the collection of population, facility and community-based data. However, this information is often not used by key stakeholders to effectively inform policy and programmatic decision making. As a result, many health systems fail to fully link evidence to decisions and suffer from a decreased ability to respond to priority needs at all levels of the health system.
In an effort to strengthen the links between data and decision making, MEASURE Evaluation, the Health Metrics Network, and the East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA) are co-organizing a meeting January 28-29, 2009 in Arusha, Tanzania with the objective of sharing experiences in using health data to improve programs and policies. Proven approaches for improving the use of data, common challenges to data use and key priorities for creating a culture of evidence-based decision making will be shared in this two day, interactive meeting. In addition to the symposium, a skills building session in approaches and tools to facilitate data use will be held on January 30.
Proven approaches for improving use of data for decision making, common challenges to data use and key priorities for the advancement of evidence-based decision making will be shared in this two day, interactive meeting. The meeting will bring together stakeholders working in policy, programs, research, information technology, health systems strengthening and capacity development in all major health areas. The symposium will include plenary presentation, group discussion and break-out learning sessions. Specific conference themes include:
- Changing the Big Picture: Policy Development and Change Through Use of Data and Information
- Drawing the Map: Data Utilization for Strategic Planning
- Telling the Story: Advocacy/Awareness Raising Efforts Based on Evidence
- Getting It Done: Strengthening Program Design and Services Through Health Data and Information
- Tools for Success: Breakout Sessions to Share Approaches, Technologies and Tools for Using Health Data and Information
The symposium conveners will also explore the interest in and feasibility of establishing a virtual community of practice among those interested in continuing the learning and information exchange initiated at the symposium.
Call for Abstracts
The abstract submission deadline has passed.
Scholarship
The scholarship request deadline has passed.
Skills building session
On January 30, a session facilitated by MEASURE Evaluation staff will be offered to build participants skills in evidence-based decision making. Specific MEASURE Evaluation tools and approaches will be used to guide the session.
Participants will be introduced to the process of stakeholder analysis, the identification of constraints to data use and potential solutions to those constraints, the identification of key decisions that are made by organizations and appropriate data sources to inform those decisions, and mapping the production and flow of routine health information in order to improve its usefulness.
Register for this session by checking the box on the registration form.