The recent “CRVS System Testing and Finalization Workshop,” held from November 19th to December 7th, 2023, at the Coral Palace Hotel in Baghdad, marked a significant milestone in Iraq’s journey towards digital health. This comprehensive workshop, a collaborative effort between UNICEF and the Iraq Ministry of Health (MoH), aimed to enhance the country’s health services through digitalization.

Digital health, an umbrella term encompassing eHealth and mHealth, is not merely a trend but a necessity in Iraq’s healthcare evolution. This paradigm shift is critical in a country grappling with challenges such as limited healthcare access in remote areas, outdated health records systems, and a need for efficient disease surveillance and response mechanisms.

UNICEF’s involvement in this transformation is more than a partnership; it’s a strategic alliance, addressing fundamental healthcare needs while paving the way for innovative solutions. Their support in digitizing birth registration and immunization linkage is not just about technology; it’s about building a resilient health infrastructure that can adapt to the dynamic needs of Iraq’s growing population.

The CRVS system is a cornerstone of this strategy, offering a digital solution that enhances data accuracy, improves service delivery, and aids in effective health planning and implementation. This workshop was a critical connection in this journey, symbolizing the transition from traditional to digital, reflecting a commitment to a healthier, more informed, and well-served Iraqi society.

The workshop included participants from various departments, including the Directorate of Planning and Vital Statistics, system end-users, and the MoH IT team. The workshop was led by ISEET trainers and focused on finalizing the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) System.

Over the 15-day intensive program, participants were immersed in a learning environment that combined theoretical knowledge with practical application. The training on Power BI was pivotal in equipping participants with the ability to handle complex data sets, develop intuitive user interfaces, and create insightful reports and dashboards. This skill set is crucial in managing the CRVS system, which stands at the heart of Iraq’s digital health initiative. The hands-on approach adopted in the training ensured that participants understood the technology’s theoretical aspects and were competent in applying them in real-world scenarios. This approach was vital in bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that the knowledge imparted was theoretical and practically applicable.

Below are the focus areas of the workshop:

Power BI Training: A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to training the MoH team on Power BI, a platform crucial for data analysis and report generation. Participants learned to create comprehensive dashboards and reports, providing actionable insights for decision-making.

System Testing: Testing the CRVS system with end-users was a critical component. Feedback collected during these sessions was instrumental in refining the system for its eventual deployment.

Deployment Strategies: The workshop also addressed deploying the CRVS system on MoH servers for Baghdad and the Kurdistan region, ensuring system readiness for the pilot phase.

The workshop concluded with a clear path forward. The immediate next steps involve revising the CRVS system by incorporating all feedback, deploying it on MoH servers, and commencing the pilot phase in Baghdad and the Kurdistan region.