By Fauziyya Habib Mahmud
The Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), in collaboration with the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, FCDO Lafiya Programme, has successfully conducted a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening DHIS2 reporting among selected private health facilities in Kano State.
The workshop, which took place at the Agency’s conference hall, brought together representatives of private health facilities, Local Government Area (LGA) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officers, the PHIMA M&E team, the State HMIS team, and development partners.
The training Focused on improving DHIS2 reporting completeness, timeliness, data quality, and effective data utilization among private health facilities across the State.
In her welcome address, the Acting Director-General of the Agency, Hajiya Khadijah Sa’id, appreciated the participants for honoring the invitation and urged private health facility representatives to ensure accurate and timely documentation of patients’ records.
She noted that proper record keeping and regular monthly reporting through DHIS2 are essential in helping government and stakeholders in the health sector to understand prevailing health challenges within communities and respond appropriately through improved healthcare interventions.
She further stated that facilities that consistently submit accurate and timely reports would be recognized with certificates or tokens of appreciation to encourage compliance and excellence in reporting practices.
She emphasized the need for improved DHIS2 reporting, stressing that quality health data remains critical for disease surveillance, health planning, policy formulation, resource mobilization, and evidence-based decision-making within the health sector.
The Acting Director-General also disclosed that PHIMA would commence supervisory visits to health facilities across the State next week, warning that any facility found violating reporting regulations or operating outside approved standards would face sanctions, including possible sealing of the facility.
Speaking during the workshop, the PHIMA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Shafi’u Ahmad highlighted the a
Agency’s mandate and the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS)/DHIS2 policy requirements for both public and private health facilities.
According to him, every private health facility operating in Kano State must register with PHIMA before commencing operations and renew its operational license annually upon payment of the approved renewal fees.
He further stressed that all health facilities are mandated to comply with NHMIS/DHIS2 reporting requirements by ensuring complete, accurate, and timely submission of health data into the national health information system.
The officer warned that facilities found guilty of non-compliance, poor reporting practices, or illegal operations would be sanctioned in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
Also speaking at the workshop, The facilitator Muhammad Jamil Saleh from FCDO Lafiya presented an analysis of DHIS2 reporting performance among private health facilities. He revealed that many facilities remain completely non-reporting or have very low reporting rates.
He identified common data quality challenges, including incomplete records, delayed submission of reports, inconsistencies in figures, and inaccurate documentation. He further explained that quality health data plays a vital role in planning, budgeting, supportive supervision, performance monitoring, resource allocation, and program implementation. He added that reliable data enables government and partners to identify health priorities, track disease trends, allocate resources effectively, evaluate health programs, and make informed decisions that improve healthcare service delivery.
As part of the workshop activities, participants were divided into groups comprising private health facility representatives and LGA M&E officers to identify root causes of reporting and data quality gaps, share operational and system-level challenges, and develop practical strategies for improving reporting completeness and timeliness.
Each group later presented its findings and recommendations, with participants collectively emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration, regular supportive supervision, continuous capacity building, and greater commitment to DHIS2 reporting among private health facilities.
The workshop ended with renewed commitments from stakeholders to strengthen health data management systems and improve the quality, completeness, and timeliness of health reporting across Kano State.