Creating digital efficiencies in epidemic monitoring to support the health information system in Ethiopia

PhD candidate: Rozina Tariku
Institution: University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (in collaboration with EPHI and McMaster University)
Supervisors: Tobias F. Rinke de Wit; Dawit Wolday; Melkamu Abte

This PhD project aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s health information system by improving the efficiency, timeliness, and quality of epidemic surveillance through digital transformation. Despite the introduction of DHIS2 and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, surveillance remains constrained by paper-based reporting, delayed data transmission, incomplete reporting, and limited use of real-time data for outbreak response, thereby reducing the effectiveness of early warning systems.

The study proposes a series of implementation experiments to evaluate how digital tools can improve surveillance performance across different levels of the health system. The first intervention will introduce a digital IDSR reporting system across 29 health facilities in Addis Ababa, using KoboToolbox for real-time data capture and Microsoft Power BI dashboards for decision support. The second experiment will assess AI-supported connected malaria diagnostics to improve diagnostic accuracy and real-time reporting in malaria-endemic settings. The third will evaluate the implementation of the electronic Public Health Emergency Management (ePHEM) system in improving outbreak coordination and operational efficiency.

A quasi-experimental design will be applied using retrospective and prospective data. Quantitative analyses will assess improvements in reporting completeness, timeliness, accuracy, diagnostic performance, and system efficiency, as well as factors influencing implementation performance.

The project is expected to generate evidence on how integrated digital solutions can enhance epidemic monitoring and response. Findings will inform national policy, support interoperability with existing systems, and contribute to the development of a scalable real-time surveillance network in Ethiopia, ultimately strengthening epidemic preparedness through data-driven decision-making.