The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report exposing significant weaknesses in health information systems across the African continent, warning that incomplete death records and limited data analysis capacity are leaving decision-makers without the evidence needed to protect vulnerable populations. The findings were launched on 10 November 2026 at the First African Health Data Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, according to a press release. The three-day gathering convened health ministers, senior officials, and other stakeholders to examine ways to strengthen national health information infrastructure. The report assessed 40 countries and identified widespread challenges in recording deaths and interpreting health data. Quality health information, WHO stressed, is essential for detecting emerging threats and taking timely action.
The WHO Africa Region comprises 47 countries, and the assessment forms part of broader efforts to improve data-driven decision-making in public health. The forum, which runs through Thursday, allows Member States to share experiences, review findings, and explore solutions. It also examines how digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) can support healthcare services. The report arrives as governments across the region work to modernize data collection. It offers a detailed picture of both persistent gaps and encouraging progress.
Of the 40 countries assessed, fewer than half – 19 – reported that authorities are notified of at least eight in 10 deaths, while just 21 record a cause for at least eight in 10 registered deaths. Fewer than half (43 per cent) have adequate capacity to analyze health data at clinic and hospital level, and only one in four can verify data quality at that level. Only 18 per cent of countries reported having a dedicated budget for health information systems. Additional weaknesses relate to coordination, routine data-quality checks, and the availability of trained professionals. Many countries remain at early stages of building reliable systems.
Despite the challenges, 43 of the 47 countries in the WHO Africa Region have adopted a digital platform for collecting and reporting routine health information. In Nigeria’s Bauchi state, health authorities combined vaccination data with community-level information to identify children who had missed routine immunizations.
“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 Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa. Dr. Hillary Kipruto, a WHO technical officer, highlighted the growing role of AI in healthcare. “The power for diagnostics has leapfrogged,” he told UN News, noting that reports once requiring months of analysis can now be generated instantly.
Dr. Kipruto also cautioned that the adoption of AI must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards. “We cannot run away from it, but we have to make sure that there are enabling legislation and frameworks which allows us to responsibly use AI,” he said. The forum provides a platform for participants to identify practical solutions and share lessons across the region. Discussions focus on how innovation can strengthen health information systems and improve service delivery. The report’s findings are expected to guide future investment and policy decisions. Strengthening data systems, WHO underscores, is central to safeguarding health across Africa.