Africa: When Deaths Go Uncounted - Who Flags Dangerous Blind Spots in Africa's Health Data

What the report says

A new World Health Organization report says many African countries still have major gaps in health data systems, limiting their ability to spot threats, track deaths and direct lifesaving action. The findings were highlighted in a UN News report distributed by AllAfrica and released around the opening of the First African Health Data Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, where ministers and health officials gathered to discuss the issue.

According to the report, fewer than half of the 40 countries assessed said authorities are notified of at least eight in 10 deaths, and just over half record a cause of death for that share of registered deaths. The study also points to weak capacity to analyze data at clinics and hospitals, limited quality checks, and shortages in funding and trained personnel. Only a small share of countries reported having a dedicated budget for health information systems.

WHO Africa Regional Director Dr. Mohamed Janabi said poor data can cause officials to miss who needs care most and where health risks are concentrated. At the same time, the report notes progress: most countries in the WHO Africa Region have adopted digital platforms for routine health reporting. The forum is also examining how digital tools and artificial intelligence could improve health information systems, while stressing the need for proper rules and oversight.