HMN Board approves Network's new biennial strategy 2010-11
07 July 2010
HMN's future direction was affirmed this week at the 15th meeting of the Board, held in London from 28-29 June. HMN Board members endorsed the proposed new strategy and governance mechanisms to steer the Network's operations in critically important directions over the next two years.
Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet and Chair of the HMN Board, said, "I am delighted to announce the Board's agreement on the refreshed strategy and new governance structures. I would like to especially commend the energetic efforts and commitment of all Board members and HMN's Secretariat in shaping this positive outcome, which marks a major step forward for the Network, our supporters and for global health."
Dr Jaime Sepulveda, Director of Integrated Health Solutions Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who sits on the HMN Board, said, "HMN's new strategy reflects the shared vision of global and country players investing in national information systems to improve health. I look forward to playing an active role in the implementation of the new direction."
Welcoming the Board's approval, Dr Najeeb Al Shorbaji, Acting Assistant-Director General of Information, Evidence and Research at WHO, HMN's host agency, said, "In its efforts to strengthen country health information systems, HMN plays a critical role in the evolving global health arena. The priority areas outlined in the strategy address the demand for targeted, information-driven approaches towards achieving global health objectives."
The centrepiece of the strategy is MOVE-IT for the MDGs, a new initiative that will harness information technology in a drive to improve systems to manage pregnancies, record births, deaths and causes of death and enhance measurement of progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Civil and vital events registration systems lie at the heart of a sound and viable national health information system but have received little global and national attention and investment in recent decades.
Further significant investment by HMN over the next two years will focus on tracking improvements in country health information systems, linked to the HMN Framework and standards. Since 2005, more than 80 countries have adopted the Framework to improve their health information systems, including 70% of low and low-middle income countries. Progress will be showcased in a new report, State of the World's Information Systems for Health, to be published in 2012.
Governance changes approved at the meeting include the establishment of a new Executive Board that will include representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Fund, PARIS21, UNICEF, the US Government, the World Bank, WHO, as well as select country and regional stakeholders. A Partner Forum is also proposed, extending the range of partners involved in the Network. The Board has created working groups of Network partners to oversee and support the priority MOVE-IT for the MDGs initiative and to track health information system improvements associated with the HMN Framework.