Child and Maternal Health Data Made Easy: Introducing the ZFF Pook Malusog Dashboard
Stories | by Krizzia Esperanza
Managing data effectively is crucial for delivering quality health services. The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) has introduced the ZFF Pook Malusog Dashboard, a user-friendly tool designed to streamline child and maternal health including adolescent pregnancy data collection and analysis, particularly focusing on the vital First 1,000 Days (F1KD) period.
The dashboard simplifies tasks like data entry, validation, and visualization, making it easier for local healthcare professionals to access and utilize important health information. In the pilot launch in Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte last February 6-8, 2024, the dashboard demonstrated its practical use.
Sixty participants from three municipalities, all part of the AHON Siargao Strategic Assistance Program (ASAP) of the Alumni Association of Asian Institute of Management, convened for this three-day event. These AHON communities, identified as the most vulnerable to disasters and emergencies, stand to benefit greatly from the introduction of the Dashboard.
Mayor Maria Liza G. Resurreccion of Pilar, Surigao del Norte, echoed this sentiment, stating, “It is a need to have accurate and valuable data to make timely and sound decisions especially when health and nutrition of people is on the line.” Pilar, a fifth class municipality in Siargao, plans to fund the procurement of tablets for all its 15 Barangay Nutrition Scholars to support the technology.
The ZFF Pook Malusog Dashboard has the following key features:
- Offline/Online Functionality. It works even in areas with poor internet connection, allowing continuous data collection and analysis.
- Geo-Tagging. It tags households with precise locations, making profiling easier and enabling spot map features for better visualization, which helps in targeted interventions.
- Smart Calculation and Automatic Assessment. By entering key measurements like height, weight, and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), the dashboard automatically provides treatment and referral recommendations.
- Relevancy. It filters questions based on data parameters, making data entry faster by removing unnecessary fields and saving time and resources.
- Security. It has strong security features that protect data integrity and confidentiality. Detailed logging ensures accountability and transparency in data encoding activities.
By integrating various health and nutrition datasets into one platform, the dashboard provides a comprehensive view of community health needs. This helps local leaders make informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively. Additionally, by reducing errors and improving data accuracy, the dashboard enhances the reliability of health information.
As the dashboard moves from pilot to full implementation, its impact is expected to grow. By empowering local healthcare providers with better tools and information, ZFF aims to improve healthcare delivery and ultimately, the well-being of communities.
Looking ahead, the ZFF will continue to support municipalities in configuring accounts and transferring the technology, with its official deployment scheduled for the first week of March.
The ZFF Pook Malusog Dashboard represents a practical step forward in healthcare management. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a valuable asset for improving child health outcomes at the local level.