Uganda, Zambia and South Africa Strengthen Collaboration on Public Health Data Use and Evidence-Informed Policymaking

Public health experts and technical representatives from Uganda, Zambia and South Africa convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 20–23 October 2026 for a four-day cross-country exchange aimed at strengthening the use of public health data, evidence generation and translation into policy and practice.

Hosted at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) campus, the exchange brought together country delegations under the Data for Health (D4H) programme to share experiences, showcase good practices and explore practical solutions to common challenges in public health information systems.

The exchange focused on five key thematic areas: Data to Policy (D2P), Public Health Bulletins (PHBs), Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), scientific communication, and One Health collaboration. Through country presentations, technical discussions, interactive mapping exercises and peer-learning sessions, participants examined approaches to translating health data into actionable policies, strengthening mortality surveillance and reporting systems, improving scientific writing and mentorship, and enhancing the dissemination of public health evidence.

Participants also undertook a technical visit to NICD to gain insights into its institutional operations and approaches to public health information management and communication.

The final day focused on country-specific action planning, with delegations identifying priority interventions, developing implementation roadmaps and discussing opportunities for continued cross-country collaboration and follow-up support.

The exchange provided an important platform for regional knowledge-sharing and institutional learning, with the overarching goal of strengthening evidence-informed decision-making, improving public health communication, and ensuring that reliable health information contributes more effectively to policy development and public health action.