The West African Health Organisations (WAHO) recently commemorated WAHO Day at its headquarters in Burkina Faso. The theme for this year’s celebration was "Reform of Health Information Systems: a challenge for informed decisions making at all levels of the Ecowas Region".

Delivering his annual message, Dr. Placido Cardoso, WAHO director general stated that reliable quality information remains the main foundation of any public health action, especially when resources are limited and there is a need for proper allocation of funds that are likely to save lives.

He revealed that 25 years ago, heads of state and government of the West African region motivated by a common vision adopted the protocol establishing the West African Health Organisation, a specialised health institution born of the merger between the Francophone Organisation for Coordination and Cooperation for Major Endemic Disease Control (OCCGE) and the Anglophone West African Heath Community (WAHC).

“Like in the previous years, it is my honour to address you on the occasion of the 25th WAHO Day.It is fitting to remember in July of every year that decision whose multifaceted gains can be seen in the health sector.Beyond the memories and tributes earned, the time is ripe on one hand, to make our Institution more visible through the various events that all countrieshold annually and on another hand, to promote a health theme that is common to us all,” he said.

Looking at the theme, Dr. Cardoso said, they are of the view that this is a topical issue for various reasons known and recognised by nearly everyone. According to him, there is an urgent need at present to offer significant improvements in the quality of national health information systems across the Ecowas region because they are a fundamental component of health systems.

In situations of emerging diseases, especially when they are serious threats to human health, it is critical to have consistent information for both the prevention of epidemics at national level, and the prevention of pandemicsas well as adequate management of cases.

While considering health information a priority health intervention throughout the Ecowas region, he stated, the West African Health Organisation intendsto align themselves with the current international context, beginning with the need to monitortheir countries’ commitments in relation to the Millennium Development Goals by fulfilling the requirements of the new International Health Regulations, complying with resolutions of the United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS, being involved in the international partnership for Roll Back Malaria and a lot of other initiatives.

In this context, Dr. Cardoso disclosed that WAHO’s direct involvement in strengthening national health information systems capacity is gaining awareness and a responsible way of toeing the only path leading to sub-regional integration and providing more visibility to the results of ongoing efforts aimed at achieving the objectives of international commitments.

“That's why I call on all to take the path that will lead to the integration of health information at country level and its full utilisation for sensitive and relevant decision making likely to promote the development of health systems and facilitate the prevention and control of diseases. It is my fervent wish that countries in particular work together to derive more benefits from the use of limited resources, both human and financial, for an Integrated Health Information System,” he noted.

He urged partners to line up with the priority needs expressed by countries. According to him, the best way to support is to successfully meet the needs expressed by the one who makes the request. The reality in countries of the sub-region requires partners to undertake a concerted and coordinated effort.

He expressed hope that together they will arrive at establishing, within a short time, health information systems that are strong enough, able to ensure the flow of quality information in order, among other things, to foster harmonisation of policies, support the coordination of disease surveillance and response to epidemics, facilitate cross-border collaboration, promotion of best practices and adequate resource mobilisation, etc.

Dr. Cardoso acknowledged the individual and collective commitment of all Ecowas Member States to health issues in general and particularly for their efforts in promoting quality health information despite their shortcomings. “WAHO would like to reiterate, through me, its appreciation and availability to all Honourable Ministers of Health of our region, and all partners for all the efforts made to ensure to our populations the welfare they so long for,” he added.