Reaching MDGs with stronger health information systems
20 September 2010
Robust, consolidated, well-staffed and adequately resourced health information systems are critical to reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Timely and accurate health data enable better monitoring of progress towards MDGs. In addition, better health information focuses decision-making and spending on the most important health issues a country faces, including reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDGs 4,5 and 6).
At a Summit side event on 21 September, HMN attended a panel chaired by Dr Najeeb Al Shorbaji, Director of WHO's Knowledge Management and Services Department. This event was part of "Women connected for Health" in which first ladies, health and information and communications technologies experts discussed structural bottlenecks to reaching MDGs in Africa and solutions.