Efficient Data Management and Evidence-Based Programming Strengthened Within the CBC Health Services
Staff from different programs, specialized services and facilities of the CBC Health Services have undergone a 2-day workshop geared towards reviewing the 2023 statistical reports for integration into the 2023 Annual Reports and approve indicators for integration into the 2024 reporting.
The training from February 1-2, 2024, was organized under the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL) program of the CBC Health Services.
Participants during the training benefitted knowledge on the PMEL Strategy within the CBC Health Services, the CBC Health Services Data Management and Protection Policy, Data management structure, roles and responsibilities.
The training will enable participants who are PMEL Focal Points in health facilities, programs and specialized services of the CBC Health Services to evaluate their performance in 2023 as they plan better-reporting strategies from 2024.
Welcoming participants, the Deputy Director for Administration and Finance (DDAF), Mr. Warri Denis congratulated them for the work they are doing in their respective facilities and programs to uphold the Mission of the CBC Health Services, which is the provision of quality healthcare to all.
He encouraged them to continue in the same light even amidst the challenging times. The DDAF called on them to build a culture for the effective use of data and evidence-based management. Evidence-based management and practice he reiterated helps in decision making for the institution’s leaders. The data management team as pace-setters in this domain has to show the value of data to decision-making. Intentionally prioritizing data collection and management will lead to the success of this endeavor, he concluded.
The training had as main facilitator, Dr. Nshom Emmanuel, the PMEL Supervisor who also provides Technical Assistance to the PMEL program.
The Communication Unit caught up with some two participants after the training to know the added value that the training will have on their work:
“I am really happy that I took part in this two-day seminar which had to do with bringing together all the data staff in various programs and especially the PMEL Zonal coordinators who gathered together to review the pass year 2023 and also to review the indicators that are used to indicate how our services are progressing. I have learned of programs that I was not aware of and now we are called up to work together, we have to collaborate with this programs that are within the zone, so that together we can collect data that is going to be used by various stakeholders. We also had to review the data collection tools so we are going back to have a meeting with the data collectors and make a plan on how to implement the changes to collect more and accurate data at the level of the Mboppi zone.” Kommy Calvin, Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala
“The data management workshop was actually an avenue for learning and we were able to gather with other projects and specialized services. I presented on our project, and what was presented were our overall goals, objectives, indicators, and key realizations in 2023. It was an opportunity for us to see how much we are able to intervene in the South West region. It was also an avenue for us to share some of our common challenges and way forward for 2024. We pray that many of such workshops can come up so that we can continue to build our capacity” – Nformi Ruth Fajong from Baptist Hospital Mutengene
The CBC Health Services currently collects, analyses, preserves data in many formats, and will continue to improve thanks to novel strategies employed and the active involvement of all stakeholders to facilitate the process.