Strengthened health information systems in Antigua and Barbuda are helping to combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and non-communicable diseases

The Ministry of Health of Antigua and Barbuda recognizes the importance of timely and accurate health data to guide decision-making on health policies, prioritization of health programs, and the allocation of resources, as well as in monitoring their impact. In this context, and as part of the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) strategy for health information systems development, it introduced in 2008 a new electronic case-based information system to capture relevant data needed to monitor the 90-90-90 targets for HIV care and treatment and the mother-to-child HIV transmission elimination targets.

Aerial view of Shirley Heights Lookout

When the project is finished, timely reporting of national HIV, Tuberculosis and non-communicable disease indicators to authorities in the country and the global community will be achieved.

The Ministry of Health acknowledges the benefit of such a system and has decided to expand the program to include non-communicable diseases. The resulting project, one of the winning proposals of the call for proposals for the implementation of IS4H projects promoted by the Pan American Health Organization, seeks the enhanced collection, management, analysis, reporting, dissemination and use of pertinent data for HIV interventions, Tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases.

The project's goal is to have at least 5 main health facilities equipped to capture, analyze and report on HIV, Tuberculosis, and non-communicable disease surveillance data. Health professionals will be trained in data entry and management. When these two components are in place, timely reporting of national HIV, Tuberculosis and non-communicable disease indicators to authorities in the country and the global community will be achieved.

In the case of the HIV component, the project fulfils the requirements of the country roll out of a newly developed electronic case-based HIV surveillance, encompassing a comprehensive list of modules that cover all aspects of HIV care. As for the NCD component, the project fulfils Goal #2 (Strengthen Health Systems and Community Support Mechanisms) of the Country's National Strategic Plan for Health 2016-2020.