Tigray, Ethiopia – July 09, 2024 – The Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI), in collaboration with key stakeholders, is proud to announce the official launch of the Tigray Regional Data Management Center (TRDMC). This initiative marks a significant step towards building an evidence-based future for public health in the region.
Rebuilding After Devastation
The TRDMC’s establishment comes after a period of immense challenge. The war in Tigray resulted in the destruction of valuable health data. Recognizing the critical role of data in healthcare decision-making, the TRDMC was established through a collaborative effort involving:
- Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI)
- National Data Management Center for Health (NDMC)
- Tigray Regional Health Bureau (TRHB)
Centralized Hub for Health Data
Professor Kindeya Gebrehiwot, Head of the Cabinet Secretariat for transformation of Social Development of IRA in Tigray, emphasized the importance of the TRDMC in consolidating health data that was previously scattered across various institutions. This data will now be securely stored in a central location to play a vital role in facilitating comprehensive analysis and informed decision-making.
Core Functions of TRDMC
Dr. Hayelom Kahsay, Director General of THRI, highlighted the TRDMCs core functions:
- Data Repository & Archive: Establishing a secure and centralized repository for health data.
- Data Analysis and Visualization: Transforming data into actionable insights through analysis and visualization tools.
- Policy and Issue Briefs: Generating evidence-based policy briefs and issue briefs to guide public health interventions.
- Disease Burden & Prediction: Estimating disease burden and predicting future trends to inform resource allocation and preparedness.
Dr. Hayelom noted that these features will be particularly valuable for executives, researchers, and the broader public health community.
Recovering Lost Data, Building a Brighter Future
r. Amanuel Haile, Head of the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, underscored the importance of the TRDMC. He stated, “Recalling that a lot of data has been lost due to the large-scale war, this central data management is of great importance to the region, especially in the field of health.”
Dr. Asnake Worku, Director of the NDMC, further emphasized the need to bridge existing data gaps and foster a culture of data sharing among researchers and the public.
Critical Step Toward Rebuilding Tigray’s Public Health Infrastructure
The launch of the TRDMC represents a critical step toward rebuilding Tigray’s public health infrastructure and ensuring a data-driven approach to future healthcare efforts.
Launch Event Highlights
In addition to informative presentations, the launch event featured:
- A snapshot of TRDMC by Mrs. Semhal Hagos.
- Data analytics and visualization in TRDMC by Dr. Haftu Gebrehiwot.
- Expectations of TRDMC from stakeholders by Mr. Tsegay Semere.
- A demonstration of the RDMC website and data repository system by Mr. Yemane Seged.
These presentations provided valuable insights into the TRDMC’s functionalities and its potential impact on public health in Tigray.
