Mozambique implements electronic death registration system to streamline vital data collection

Information and communication technologies have become vital in modern health systems due to their ability to facilitate communication, streamline record-keeping, share data efficiently, and improve knowledge sharing across various platforms.

In Mozambique, death records have traditionally been kept manually, with each morgue and cemetery maintaining separate books that vary in structure and content. This manual system makes it difficult to analyze and produce timely reports, resulting in slower processes and higher costs.

To address these challenges, the National Institute of Health (INS), in partnership with the Municipality of Maputo, initiated efforts to digitize death registration. By standardizing the record-keeping process across morgues and cemeteries, they developed an electronic death registration system aimed at improving data collection and management. This initiative is part of a larger push to modernize vital statistics in Mozambique and enhance data accuracy for better decision-making in health and social services.

A pilot phase of the electronic system was launched on August 11, running for 14 days to assess its viability and acceptance among key stakeholders. The results were promising, and even after the pilot concluded, the digital data collection process in Maputo City has continued uninterrupted.

Building on the success of this pilot, the system is being rolled out to key municipalities across Mozambique, including Lichinga, Nampula, Quelimane, Tete, Beira, and Inhambane. These municipalities are actively implementing the system to create a more efficient and standardized approach to death registration.

Provincial coordinators recently visited Michafutene Cemetery as part of ongoing efforts to oversee the implementation of the electronic death registration system. This visit marks a significant step in ensuring that the system functions smoothly and meets the needs of all stakeholders involved.

With the implementation of this electronic system, Mozambique is paving the way for a more efficient and transparent method of managing vital health records, ensuring that critical data is readily available to inform public health strategies and improve service delivery.