Abstract: South Sudan has recently acquired statehood. Planning and management of the health care system, based on evidence, requires a constant flow of information from health services. The Division of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the Ministry of
Health developed the framework for the health sector of the country in 2008. At that time data were collected through surveys and assessments.
Two health system assessments conducted in 2007 (1) and 2009 (2) highlighted the absence of a working routine Health Management Information System (HMIS). An M&E Scoping Mission conducted in March 2010 (3) noted the lack of tools and procedures
for data collection, the inconsistent data flow and the limited capacity for analysis and use of data for action at all levels of the system. A plan to develop the system based on the ‘3-ones’ strategy (one database, one monitoring system, one leadership) was put in place under the leadership of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The MOH has since developed, tested and refined the tools and procedures for the routine HMIS, produced a comprehensive roll out plan and started the integration of health programmes into the system.
The design of the routine HMIS tools was followed by their pre-test in Jonglei and Upper Nile States. In these two states, the combination of appropriate tools, training and support resulted in health facilities, counties and states officers able to provide consistent and quality routine reports. While this happened in the two states, at central level tools were refined and explained to MOH programmes staff and partners staff; consensus was built on the need for collecting only the relevant data for action and the database for the South Sudan information system was developed in the District Health Information Software (DHIS). This joint approach provided the needed impulse for the health agencies to adhere to the MOH system. From February 2011, a flurry of activities happened to support M&E in states and counties including provision of equipment, printing and distribution of registers
and manuals and training in HMIS and DHIS of MOH officers, partners and programmes staff.
This approach has started to pay off and the routine information system is progressing. This paper presents the path followed,challenges met, advances made, and the way forward in establishing an integrated routine HMIS in South Sudan.

Abstract: Background: The Comprehensive Rural Health Services Project Ballabgarh, run by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has a computerized Health Management Information System (HMIS) since 1988. The HMIS at Ballabgarh has undergone evolution and is currently in its third version which uses generic and open source software. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized Health Management Information System in rural health system in India.
Methods: The data for evaluation were collected by in-depth interviews of the stakeholders i.e. program managers (authors) and health workers. Health Workers from AIIMS and Non-AIIMS Primary Health Centers were interviewed to compare the manual with computerized HMIS. A cost comparison between the two methods was carried out based on market costs. The resource utilization for both manual and computerized HMIS was identified based on workers’ interviews.
Results: There have been no major hardware problems in use of computerized HMIS. More than 95% of data was found to be accurate. Health workers acknowledge the usefulness of HMIS in service delivery, data storage, generation of workplans and reports. For program managers, it provides a better tool for monitoring and
supervision and data management. The initial cost incurred in computerization of two Primary Health Centers was estimated to be Indian National Rupee (INR) 1674,217 (USD 35,622). Equivalent annual incremental cost of capital items was estimated as INR 198,017 (USD 4213). The annual savings is around INR 894,283 (USD 11,924).
Conclusion: The major advantage of computerization has been in saving of time of health workers in record keeping and report generation. The initial capital costs of computerization can be recovered within two years of implementation if the system is fully operational. Computerization has enabled implementation of a good system for service delivery, monitoring and supervision.

Abstract: This research set out to establish possible disparity between facility and provincial levels of tuberculosis program data, and how users and managers experience and perceive the functionality of the tuberculosis-HIV information system in South Africa.