Data science can dramatically improve public health outcomes. Through the years, Roots of Health has worked with local governments to help them become more data driven in crafting and implementing health programs.

We recently helped train 39 health workers on the Field Health Services Information System (FHSIS) which records the scope and coverage of essential public health services. The FHSIS is a crucial part of the Philippines’s information network to better manage health service delivery. It is the basis of decision-making at all levels of government from the national to the village level.

The training aimed to help users add data accurately, navigate the system better, and analyze information strategically to craft health programs that are more responsive to people’s needs.

Participants had hands-on exercises on system installation; data entry for family planning, maternal care, and child care programs, among other health programs; report generation; data merging and transmittal; and system troubleshooting.

Roots of Health had the opportunity to conduct a needs assessment workshop with the participants and we shared how data visualization tools such as charts, graphs, and maps can ease understanding of the issues and help planners have a more targeted approach in addressing these issues

We’re so excited to continue motivating local governments in Palawan to mainstream data science in their public service!