Ramouna Shipunda
A new state-of-the-art human resources management system was inaugurated by the health ministry last week. The integrated Human Resources Information System was funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (Epic) project.
More than 20 countries worldwide are use the digital, web-based integrated Human Resources Information System (iHRIS). This is to manage health workforces to improve access to health services.
The iHRIS will reduce the burden of the current paper-based system, giving health workers immediate access to needed information, and allow them to focus more time on services to patients instead of administrative tasks.
“The bottomline is that you can’t effectively respond to a health crisis without real-time information of where the need is greatest. This system will provide that information,” said Jessica Long, the chargè d’affaires of the US embassy at the launch.
Not only do the managers and policymakers benefit from this, with iHRIS vital, health workers’ information will be instantly available to any of those who need it as well.
Personal records will be updated. Managers will be able to strategically deploy resources where they are needed most. Decision-makers will have it easier by having data at their fingertips, and more efficiently develop long-term policies, plans and budgets.
Letisia Haidula, a newly registered nurse, was hired by the executive director of the ministry of health and social services Ben Nangombe to mark the launch of iHRIS.
Recent experiences with Covid-19 in Namibia have underscored the need for an accurate and up-to-date information system to quickly track, train and mobilise health workers across the country. Having easily-accessible data on the health workforce is essential to respond to immediate challenges, and to plan for new and emerging threats.
Nangombe also launched Namibia’s first-ever Human Resources for Health Status Report, a detailed analysis of staffing levels and shortages at public health facilities across the country.
Once fully operational, iHRIS will allow for the immediate identification of shortages, and will be used to ensure staff are more strategically deployed to meet the health needs of all Namibians.