JUBA, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has embarked on an initiative to strengthen its mortality surveillance system by enhancing the skills of health workers through targeted training.
The initiative, aimed at improving the collection of accurate disease data, enhancing reporting processes, and refining health services, is intended to inform better health outcomes, the WHO said in a statement issued Thursday in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The UN health agency said the program is funded by the World Bank and involves the South Sudanese Ministry of Health's rollout of its first-ever training of trainers on the Medical Certification of Cause of Death, coding diagnoses using the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and Verbal Autopsy Systems.
A total of 35 medical doctors and data personnel from state hospitals were trained to use the ICD-11, a global tool recommended by the WHO to record, analyze, and compare mortality and morbidity data.
ICD-11 provides essential insights into the extent, causes, and consequences of human disease and death, enabling health authorities to make data-driven decisions. The data gathered will be used to inform health policies, set research priorities, and guide health interventions across the country.
WHO's South Sudan Representative Humphrey Karamagi emphasized the significance of ICD-11 in shaping health outcomes, guiding policy, and informing interventions.
"With accurate death certification, we are able to understand disease trends and patterns, identify emerging health challenges, and ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed," Karamagi said.
Harriet Akello Pasquale, undersecretary of the National Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of addressing the lack of information on deaths and their causes due to documentation challenges.
"Knowing the numbers and causes of deaths is central to evidence-based decision-making. With information on death and its cause, the health sector can target interventions to areas where they are needed most in order to reduce death," Akello said.
South Sudan continues to grapple with disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and public health challenges exacerbated by hunger, flooding, and insecurity, all of which have contributed to rising mortality rates, according to the WHO.
