Namibia is taking the necessary steps to ensure that every child counts from birth.
Government representatives, joined by stakeholders in health and other experts, met in Windhoek to improve birth registration through e-birth notifications and integrated civil registration and vital statistics systems at health facilities.
The system aims register children immediately after birth at hospitals to ensure birth certificates.
The development would also improve national data management systems to better support and strengthen planning and service delivery.
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao stated that while progress has been made, delays in birth registration and outdated systems continue to affect service delivery across the country.
“A child would be born in a health facility, but the legal recognition of this child's existence might be delayed for months, and even years at times. And this gap, creates such a blind spot because it limits service delivery.”
The Minister of Home Affairs, Lucia Iipumbu, said digital systems are now integrated and operative in over 100 of its facilities.
“The e-birth notification was introduced in our health facilities in the year 2017, and it was shortly followed by the e-death notification, which was introduced in the year 2018. Today, these systems connect, and they operate in our 153 facilities, which include the state and private hospitals.”
Efforts are ongoing to expand access and ensure that both public and private health facilities are included in the system.
The system is being facilitated by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC).
“So your leadership and commitment to innovation in digital health and civil registration systems are not only commendable but also an inspiration for the entire continent. It is particularly impressive that the e-birth notification system has been implemented nationwide, and now we are recording coverage of close to 99% of birth registration, meaning universal coverage."
The learning visit on e-birth notification, as well as integrated civil registration and vital statistics system engagement, will end on 27 March.