Centers for Disease Control - CGH

Description

Malawi continues to rely on surveys, censuses, and facility-based health information systems to produce vital statistics for national use and reporting to the United Nations and other programs. Civil registration and vital statistics systems have a dual but integral purpose. Foremost, civil registration upholds the rights of citizens through the production of legal certificates as proof of identity, legal status, and having other social benefits including proof of family relationships. Second, from the established certificate system, administrative data may be generated in an ongoing, systematic way and is the basis of population-based vital statistics. Accurate and timely information on births and deaths is essential to National planning, not only for reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS, but assuring appropriate resource allocation to improve health inequalities using population-based civil registration and vital statistics systems. In 2007, the Government of Malawi established the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to coordinate the implementation of its National registration and identification system. Subsequently, the old law inherited from colonial rule was amended resulting in the now National Registration Act of 2010. This Act makes the registration of births and deaths compulsory. It also revised administrative structures and created accessible registration offices by the rural community. Although NRB initiated the implementation of the new law, expected conventional standards of civil registration and vital statistics were not achieved. To advance Malawi’s progress, and as a means of improving HIV/AIDS information systems, including HIV surveillance, monitoring and evaluation and operational research, CDC and USAID supported CRVS development through a PEPFAR / Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) Strategic Information Central Initiative funding. Under the OGAC funded initiative (2012-present), the project targeted 3 Districts and the National level for the following achievements: (1) National and District rapid assessments, (2) a National strategic plan, (3) trainings and capacity development, and (4) process and tool improvements. This FOA aims to sustain gains made during this earlier phase and continue progress in establishing a well-functioning, civil registration and vital statistics system in Malawi. All people registered will be provided a unique number for identification. This is a benefit of the electronic version as it will be integrated with electronic medical record systems (EMRS) in health facilities. Integration of the two systems will help to identify, build family relationships and on HIV exposed people needing targeted services such as infants. For example, 8% of infants discharged from maternity services are identified as being exposed to HIV, and among these, only 63% infants are enrolled in exposed child follow-up. With the integration of CRVS and EMRS could improve case identification for the advancement of an AIDS-free generation.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Priyanka Rathod<br/>wnv9@cdc.gov<br/>
wnv9@cdc.gov