Sudan

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Overview:
Sudan, with a population of over 43 million, has one of Africa’s largest and most complex health systems. HISP Rwanda began engagement in Sudan in 2017, focusing on supporting the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to adopt DHIS2 for routine health data and strengthening emergency surveillance amid political transitions.

Our Work:

  1. National DHIS2 Implementation: From August 2017 to March 2018, HISP Rwanda led the configuration of Sudan’s national DHIS2, customizing modules for communicable diseases, maternal health, and immunization. The FMoH’s Health Information and Epidemiology Department collaborated to define 150+ data elements.
  2. Cascade Training with Local Universities: We partnered with the University of Khartoum’s School of Public Health to deliver a cascade training model. HISP Rwanda trained 20 master trainers who then trained 600 district-level data officers between April and December 2018. Training content covered data entry, validation rules, and basic analytics.
  3. Malaria & Polio Surveillance: Given recurring malaria epidemics and polio eradication efforts, we built specialized surveillance trackers within DHIS2. The malaria tracker captured weekly case reports, while the polio tracker followed AFP (acute flaccid paralysis) case definitions. This enabled the National Malaria Control Program and the Polio Eradication Initiative to respond rapidly to suspected outbreaks.
  4. Offline Data Entry Rollout: Many states in Sudan (e.g., North Kordofan, South Darfur) lacked stable internet. HISP Rwanda configured the DHIS2 Android app for offline data capture, distributing 500 tablets with preconfigured forms to rural facilities and district hubs.
  5. Data Use & Coordination: We organized quarterly “data-to-action” workshops bringing together state epidemiologists and program managers. Utilizing DHIS2 dashboards, participants generated state-level action plans—such as targeted indoor residual spraying for malaria in Gezira State.

Impact:

  • Reporting Increase: DHIS2 reporting rose from 30% pre-implementation to 75% within one year, unaffected by the transitional government’s limited funding.
  • Malaria Case Management: Early detection of cases in Blue Nile State allowed an emergency bed-net distribution campaign, contributing to a 10% reduction in incidence.
  • Polio Surveillance: Timely tracking of AFP cases helped Sudan achieve zero polio cases in 2019, in line with global eradication goals.

Partners:

  • Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan: Guided policy, validated data elements, and allocated MoH staff to coordinate DHIS2 rollout.
  • World Health Organization (WHO) Sudan: Provided technical assistance for surveillance modules and supported workshop funding.
  • UNICEF Sudan: Funded tablet procurement and communication stipends for remote data officers.
  • The Carter Center: Collaborated on polio surveillance and community outreach for immunization campaigns.

Lessons Learned & Future Plans:
Sustaining DHIS2 in insecure areas requires decentralization. HISP Rwanda plans to deploy state-level mirror servers by 2025, reducing reliance on central infrastructure. We also aim to integrate DHIS2 with a telemedicine platform to improve maternal referrals in remote regions.

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