The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of geospatial data and technologies in microplanning. It can improve estimates of population distribution and measure physical access to healthcare. This strengthens health systems by improving data management, logistics, and monitoring.
However, using this kind of data and technologies can sometimes be challenging, and the health sector in some countries lack the infrastructure to fully benefit from them.
UNICEF’s strategic approach is centered on supporting governments to scale up a comprehensive set of actions for children using robust geospatial methodologies to operationalize specific applications of geospatial data and technologies for health programs. This can improve the effectiveness of the government- prioritized planned interventions in countries.
The present workshop contributes to this effort by introducing the concept and process behind the geo-enablement of the health information system, programs or interventions in countries.
The training workshop objectives are to:
- Demonstrate the potential of geospatial data and technologies in public health
- Introduce the HIS geo-enabling framework and its implementation in countries
- Transfer knowledge, expertise and resources that will allow participants to implement the HIS geo-enabling framework in their respective country
At the end of this workshop it is expected that the participants will have a better understanding of what geospatial data and technologies can bring to public health programs and how to geo-enable their health information system in a sustainable way.
Training workshop agenda: Download link
Module |
Sessions |
Slides |
Recording |
1 |
Session 1: The geographic dimension and the potential of geospatial data and technologies in public health Session 2: Examples of application of geospatial data and technologies in public health Session 3: Introduction to the HIS geo-enabling framework |
Slides module 1 | |
| 2 |
Session 4: In-country implementation of the HIS geo-enabling framework Session 5: Result of the HIS geo-enablement level assessment for Asia and Pacific (priorities and challenges) Session 6: Understand the geography of the program or intervention |
Slides module 2 | Recording module 2 |
3 |
Session 7: Result of the geographic features identification performed by the participants Session 8: Define the purpose, audience, content and format of the final products Session 9: Identify needed hardware, software and technical expertise Session 10: Assess the geo-enablement level of the HIS, program or intervention Session 11: Result of the HIS geo-enablement level assessment for Asia and Pacific (9 elements of the HIS geo-enabling framework) |
Slides module 3 | Recording module 3 |
4 |
Session 12: Assess the availability, quality and accessibility of data and information: Introduction to the geospatial data management cycle Session 13: Implement the geospatial data management cycle (define the terminology, data specifications and the ground reference) Session 14: Implement the geospatial data management cycle (document the data) Session 15 Implement the geospatial data management cycle (compile existing data, identify and fill data gaps |
Slides module 4 | Recording module 4 |
5 |
Session 16: Introduction to geospatial technologies Session 17: Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Session 18: Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) Session 19: Introduction to the concepts of registry and Common Geo-Registry (CGR) |
Slides module 5 | Recording module 5 |
6 |
Session 20: Define the strategy(ies) to be implemented to fill the gaps identified during the assessment Session 21: Develop the action plan aiming at filling the gaps in the HIS geo-enabling framework Session 22: Implement the action plan Session 23: Assess, document and sustain the result of the action plan implementation Session 24: HIS, program or intervention geo-enabling resources (recap and additional ones) |