Madar (Nairobi) - A new World Health Organization (WHO) report has found serious gaps in Africa's health information systems, with only 19 of the 40 countries assessed reporting that authorities are notified of at least eight in 10 deaths, UN News reported on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
The report was launched at the First African Health Data Forum, which opened on Tuesday in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and runs through Thursday, bringing together health ministers, senior officials and other stakeholders.
According to the report, 21 countries record a cause for at least eight in 10 registered deaths. Some 43% of countries can analyse health data at clinic and hospital level, only one in four can check its quality there, and just 18% report a dedicated budget for health information systems.
On the other hand, 43 of the 47 countries in the WHO Africa Region have adopted a digital platform for routine health reporting. The report cited Nigeria's Bauchi state, where health authorities used vaccination and community data to find children who had missed routine vaccinations.
"When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most," said WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi.
WHO technical officer Hillary Kipruto said "the power for diagnostics has leapfrogged" with artificial intelligence, while stressing the need for enabling legislation and frameworks to use it responsibly.
