The World Health Organisation has revealed critical gaps in Africa’s health information systems.

At the opening of the First Africa Health Data Forum in Kenya, the organisation noted that gaps in recording deaths and tracking health needs could delay life-saving interventions, leave preventable health risks undetected and make it difficult for communities to access essential healthcare.

The report, The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information System in the WHO African Region, which assessed 40 countries in the region, revealed that only 19 notified authorities of at least 80 per cent of deaths recorded in their respective countries.

It also found that only 21 of the 40 countries recorded the causes of death for at least 80 per cent of registered deaths.

WHO regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said the gaps could result in vulnerable people being overlooked.

“When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most,” he said.

The report also revealed weaknesses in countries’ capacity to analyse and assess the quality of health information collected at healthcare facilities.

Only 43 per cent of countries assessed had sufficient capacity to analyse health data at facility level, while just 25 per cent had the capacity to assess data quality.

This means that many health facilities may struggle to identify patterns in illnesses, track emerging health risks and determine whether the information they collect is accurate and complete.

Health managers may struggle to identify gaps in healthcare delivery and determine where additional medical personnel, equipment, and other resources are needed.

Financing and governance have remained major challenges to the development of health information systems in Africa.

The report revealed that only 18 per cent of the countries assessed had a dedicated budget for health information systems, while just 35 per cent had an up-to-date national policy to guide their development.

The assessment also highlighted poor coordination among health institutions, inadequate checks on the accuracy of collected data, and a shortage of trained personnel, noting that these challenges could undermine the reliability of health records and limit authorities’ ability to use them effectively to improve healthcare delivery.