As international health care funding faces unprecedented uncertainty, a crucial question dominated my recent discussions with ministry of health officials across East Africa: How can countries maintain critical health services when traditional aid frameworks are changing very rapidly?
The answer lies not in being constrained by dwindling support, but in revolutionizing how countries build, control, and leverage their health data systems.
After a decade working at the intersection of data and public health, I've witnessed firsthand how countries with robust, locally controlled health care data infrastructure navigate funding transitions successfully, while those without it struggle to maintain even basic services. The evidence is compelling and the path forward clear: We need immediate action to strengthen health data systems before the next funding shift arrives.
About the author
Nelima Otipa
Nelima Otipa is a global health professional specializing in data-driven approaches to digitizing public health systems. With deep experience in program design and system strengthening, she champions scalable, sustainable, locally owned solutions focused on health data ownership, resilient infrastructure, and innovation at the intersection of technology, policy, and development.
