NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 10 – More than half of African countries assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) are failing to adequately record deaths, raising concerns that preventable health risks could go undetected and delay interventions that could save lives.
A new WHO report has revealed significant weaknesses in health information systems across the continent, with only 19 of the 40 countries assessed reporting that at least 80 per cent of deaths were notified to authorities.
The assessment also found that only 21 countries recorded the cause of death for at least 80 per cent of registered deaths, limiting the ability of health authorities to identify patterns of preventable mortality and address gaps in healthcare delivery.
“Based on an assessment of 40 countries in the WHO African Region, the report reveals major weaknesses in the systems governments rely on to understand why people are dying, identify emerging health threats and direct health services and resources where they are most urgently needed,” WHO said.
The findings are contained in a report titled The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information System in the WHO African Region, which highlights shortcomings in how governments collect, analyse and use health information to guide public health decisions.
The report warns that inadequate documentation of deaths and their causes could leave recurring health risks unidentified, including complications…
