Strengthening South Africa’s Health Information System for HIV Epidemic Control
South Africa’s battle against HIV is the largest globally coordinated public health programme but its success hinges on a strong digital backbone that enables real-time decision-making, national oversight, and data-driven clinical care.
Through the Khuphukani Project, HISP South Africa, in partnership with the CDC and the National Department of Health, is driving a multi-year national effort to strengthen the country’s health information systems (HIS) to better manage and monitor the HIV and AIDS response. This includes digitising data flows, improving data quality, strengthening interoperability, and embedding sustainable capacity at every level of the health system.
Khuphukani meaning “rise up” in isiZulu reflects the project’s purpose: to elevate the performance, accuracy, and responsiveness of South Africa’s digital health systems in pursuit of epidemic control.
Primary Goal
To strengthen South Africa’s national health information system and institutional capacity to effectively monitor, manage, and respond to the HIV epidemic from policy to point-of-care.
Strategic Objectives
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Provide technical support to implement the National eHealth Strategy and Health Normative Standards Framework (HNSF)
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Enable interoperability between DHIS2 and key programme systems (e.g. TIER.Net, HPRS)
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Build workforce capacity through structured training, mentoring, and career pathing in health information management
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Transition all provinces and facilities to the DHIS2 as the national routine health information platform
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Strengthen governance, data quality, and data-use culture within the public health system
Key Components & Approach
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National Transition to DHIS2: Supported all nine provinces to adopt and report into DHIS2 as the national standard for aggregate health data. Configured, deployed, and institutionalised DHIS2 usage from province to facility level.
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Interoperability Frameworks: Established integration between DHIS2 and other systems including TIER.Net for TB/HIV and HPRS for patient registration, aligning with national architecture standards.
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Capacity Building and Mentorship: Developed a national competency framework for health information professionals. Delivered blended training and mentorship programmes to build long-term capacity across the health system.
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Data Quality and Use: Rolled out data quality improvement plans, SOPs, and dashboards. Institutionalised performance review routines and data use culture at subnational levels.
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Governance and Sustainability: Supported the creation and operationalisation of HIS governance structures within NDoH. Embedded digital systems within long-term planning and staffing models.
Key Achievements
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9/9 provinces transitioned to DHIS2 and fully reporting from the lowest connected level
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49% of facilities now capturing data directly into DHIS2 — improving timeliness and accuracy
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DHIS2 data adopted across all provinces for official performance and annual reporting
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Interoperability achieved between DHIS2, TIER.Net and HPRS systems
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20,269 personnel trained since 2014 — including data clerks, clinicians, M&E officers, and managers
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Human resource information systems developed to support health workforce planning and deployment
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Data use strengthened through facility-level mentoring, custom dashboards, and real-time analytics
Strategic Impact
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Institutionalised digital health infrastructure underpinning HIV programme planning and performance
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More responsive health system driven by real-time data access and analytics
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Improved data quality and continuity across TB/HIV programmes, with better patient tracking
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Sustainable capacity built across the national and provincial HIS workforce
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Foundation for NHI and broader system integration through interoperable, standards-based digital platforms