Introduction to geospatial data management and technologies for Health Programs training workshop – Timor Leste

APMEN Logo3

The Introduction to geospatial data management and technologies for Health Programs training workshop for Timor Leste organized in Dili, Timor-Leste on June 15 – 18, 2026 aimed at contributing to strengthening integrated surveillance in the country.

Supported by APMEN and co-hosted with Health GeoLab Hub, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in collaboration with the G-SIG Team, this training grouped 34 participants from 10 MOH programs and departments (National Malaria Programme, Division of Global Fund, TB Programme, Dengue Programme, HIS Programme, NTD’s programme, ITC Department, MCH Department, HMIS Department, and Surveillance Department).

The objective of this training was to strengthen health programs’ technical skills and practices to manage and use geospatial data and technologies.

More specifically, the training:

Clarified the concepts and the process behind the compilation, preparation and use of data to generate good thematic maps
Trained participants on the use of free app (GPS Essentials, My GPS Coordinates) and open-source software (QGIS) to collect geographic coordinates in the field, manipulate geospatial data, and produce thematic maps

Training workshop agenda: [In Tetum] [In English]

The rest of the reference materials shared during the training can be downloaded from here.

Activity and Description

Slide presentation

Exercise data and associated materials

HGL Reference Materials

	a
a	Welcome, objectives of the training, round of introduction, and expectation from participants	a
	aa

a
a	Session 1: The geographic dimension and the potential of geospatial data and technologies in public health	a
a

a
a	Session 2: Examples of application of geospatial data and technologies in public health	a
a

a

Session 3: Short introduction to the HIS geo-enabling framework and its implementation process in countries

a

a
a	HIS geo-enabling toolkit
a
a	Geo-Enabled Microplanning Handbook
a
a	StoryMap: Geo-enabling the Health Information System in Myanmar
a
a	StoryMap: Geo-enabling the Health Information System in Cambodia
a
a	StoryMap: NIMPE, Viet Nam (2018): Strengthening the management and use of geospatial data and technologies to support the implementation of Circular 54
a
a	StoryMap: Geo-enabling the Health Information System in Mongolia
a

a		a
a	Session 4: Understand the geography of a program or intervention
a

a		a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.1: Documenting the process and defining the data

a	Guidance on the Use of Geospatial Data and Technologies in Immunization Programs: Overview and Managerial Considerations for In-Country Strengthening
a

a		a
a	Session 5: Introduction to the geospatial data management cycle
a

a		a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 1: Introduction to the data-information-knowledge-decision continuum and the geospatial data management cycle
a

a

Session 6: Key elements of the implementation of the data management cycle

a

a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.1: Documenting the process and defining the data	a
a
	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.2: Defining the terminology, the data specifications, and the ground reference
a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.3: Compiling existing data and identifying gaps
a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.4.1: Extracting vector format geospatial data from basemaps
a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.4.2: Collecting data in the field
a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.5.1: Documenting the data using a metadata profile
a
a	Implementation Support Guide: Development of a National Georeferenced Community Health Worker Master List Hosted in a Registry
a

a
a	Session 7: Verification of the installation of the GNSS app and QGIS	a
a

Installation guide for GNSS app and QGIS:

a		a
a	Session 8: Introduction to geospatial technologies
a

a
a	Session 9: Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)	a
a

a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.4.2: Collecting data in the field	a
	a

a

Exercise 1: Using a smart phone and an app to collect geographic coordinates in the field

a

GPS Essentials Installation Guide and SOP:

a
a	Session 10: Introduction to Geographic Information system (GIS)	a
a

a

Exercise 2: Using basic functionalities of QGIS

a

QGIS Interface Menu and Tools:

a

Session 11: Introduction to the concepts of registry and common geo-registry

a

a
a	HIS geo-enabling: Guidance on the establishment of a common geo-registry for the simultaneous hosting, maintenance, update and sharing of lists as well as associated hierarchies and spatial data (Version 2.0)	a
a	a
a	Toolkit to support the identification and deployment of a health facility registry service in countries
a	a

a

Session 12: Components of good thematic maps and process to create them

a

a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.6.1: Creating good thematic maps using desktop GIS software
a

a
a	Session 13: Prepare the data to create a thematic map in a GIS software	a

a
a	Exercise 3: Preparation of the statistical data to create a thematic map in a GIS software	a
a

Exercise 3 data

a		a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.5.2: Using advanced Microsoft Excel functions and tools
a

a
a	Exercise 4: Preparation of the geospatial data to create a thematic map in a GIS software (QGIS)	a
a

Exercise 4 data

a

Exercise 5: Creation of a thematic map using a GIS software (QGIS)

a

Exercise 5 data

a		a
a	HGLC Guidance document volume 2.6.1: Creating good thematic maps using desktop GIS software
a