How can health informatics be integrated into medical and nursing curricula in South Sudan?

Integrating health informatics into medical and nursing curricula requires: advocacy with university leadership and the Ministry of Health to recognise health informatics as a core competency; development of health informatics learning objectives and curriculum content; training of faculty to teach health informatics; and provision of practical learning opportunities (such as DHIS2 data entry exercises and EHR simulations). SSHIA is working with the University of Juba College of Medicine and other institutions to develop health informatics curriculum content.

A competency-based approach to health informatics education is most effective. Rather than teaching specific tools, focus on the competencies that health workers need: understanding health data, using health information systems, interpreting data for decision-making, and maintaining data quality. These competencies are transferable across different tools and systems.