July 22, 2024
HJF Medical Research International (HJFMRI) in collaboration with the Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) recently launched the Health Information System (HIS) across 21 supported health facilities within the TPDF. This project was funded by the U.S. Presidents Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).
The new HIS, which is also integrated with the Ministry of Health DHIS2, will strengthen the provision of HIV services by having a one-stop data overview for more efficient and effective program planning, management, monitoring, and integrating results attained from data into decision-making in improving the health system and sustain HIV epidemic control in Tanzania.
During the handover event, the Director of Medical Services with the TPDF Brig. Gen. Charles Mwanziva appreciated the support from WRAIR, and said the investment will help to strengthen the provision of quality healthcare services across TPDF health facilities. It will also help the Ministry of Health access real-time data to enable the country plan and respond accordingly to HIV challenges.
He added that with access to real-time data across 21 TPDF health facilities, healthcare providers will be able to respond timely to patient needs by providing solutions to any challenges such as the need for viral load tests and evaluation of patient treatments, which will add value for the program to deliver effectively.
WRAIR Country Director in Tanzania Mark Breda said the launch of the HIS within the TPDF Health facilities is a great milestone as it will add value to the country’s initiative especially in the realization of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals and the HIV treatment cascade, including diagnosis, enrollment, ART initiation, and adherence to treatment as we move toward epidemic control.
In 2016, the TPDF team explored the idea of having the HIS within their facilities due to a need to have a centralized data center to collect and analyze data for their research purposes. HJFMRI saw this as an opportunity to help the TPDF strengthen the provision of HIV services and respond to the country’s priorities, especially on ensuring healthcare professionals intervene timely in any challenges observed through available data.
