CapacityPlus software developer, Carl Leitner, recently traveled to Kenya to advance HR information system (HRIS) strengthening initiatives, including furthering regional support of the iHRIS software, fostering collaboration with other health information systems (HIS) implementers in the region, and gathering feedback for future HRIS-related trainings.
In Nairobi, Carl met with representatives from the Capacity Kenya project, a Capacity Project Associate award, to discuss building regional capacity to apply and adapt the iHRIS software. The iHRIS software is currently being deployed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda; all have expressed interest in developing similar modules to track health worker leave and trainings. With this in mind, the group recognized a need to conduct a meeting for regional developers to coordinate future development plans and determine what modules and features should be executed at the country, regional, and global levels. They then began drafting an agenda and participant list for the regional meeting, which will likely be held in August and will build regional consensus and ensure continued linkages and support.
Carl also attended a health informatics training course/data management series offered by the Regional East African Centre for Health Informatics (REACH-Informatics) in Eldoret. REACH-Informatics is funded by NIH’s Fogarty Center. The training was held at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), a USAID-funded program, and supported by the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University. Attendees included data managers, data analysts, and data clerks. The meeting focused on the medical records system, OpenMRS, used by AMPATH and more than 40 countries throughout the world. While in Eldoret, Carl met with representatives from AMPATH to discuss ways to integrate iHRIS with OpenMRS and to find new uses for Kenya’s national iHRIS Manage installation.
While at the training, Carl took the opportunity to prepare for a future CapacityPlus activity – developing an HRIS-specific eLearning course to be hosted on the HRH Global Resource Center. As the training participants closely represented the intended target audience for the HRIS course, Carl administered an eLearning readiness assessment. Participant feedback will be used to inform development of the future HRIS course, future informatics trainings in Kenya and in the region, and development of Health Informatics Building Blocks (HIBBs).
participants at the REACH-Informatics training
I welcome this initiative especially that of the e-learning material which will make the course contents available at any time and everywhere.
The recent REACH-Informatics training we had was one that really taught us invaluable information.
This training did me great. It has since changed my entere lifestyle and working style and its my wish and hope that REACH should gain empowerment to extend the same in a longer
period. Iam currently trying to put the outcome into practice. Long life REACH.
REACH-Informatics training was an opener for my career. We need to have an exchange with other parts of Africa.
I really like the thought of pursuing integration points between HRIS and OpenMRS. While OpenMRS offers hope to Kenyan health facilities for robust health record management system, HRIS addresses the other aspect of human capital management that has been said to be the other big challenge with health systems in Kenya.
Integration of HRIS and OpenMRS wrt is very welcome, especially if Kenyan developers participate directly in developing the related modules / extensions – as out contribution to the OpenSource movement.
Hi there,
This is a inquiry for the webmaster/admin here at http://www.capacityproject.org.
Can I use some of the information from this blog post above if I provide a link back to your website?
Thanks,
Mark
I have been hoping for this integration for several years… and would love to have an iHRIS-OpenMRS system that we can be piloting at MVP sites…
A great move by the stake holders. integrating OpenMRs and HRIS will be a great milestone to the health sector in Kenya and beyond.
I suggest further research also on e health readiness in Kenya
What is happening with HRIS Strengthening? Get news about our ongoing work in the field, find out when new features and releases of the software are available, learn more about human resource information systems, and join the conversation. Your comments and questions are welcome.