Enhanced Visualization of DHIS2 Data

What is DHIS2?

DHIS2, the District Health Information Software, is an open-source platform for data collection, analysis and reporting of healthy system data. Ministries of Health in over 60 countries use DHIS2 to monitor both aggregate and patient-level data. Blue Raster has had the opportunity to create enhanced visualizations of data collected and stored in DHIS2 using Power BI and ArcGIS Online.

What is enhanced visualization?

While the DHIS2 platform has inbuilt data visualization capabilities, Blue Raster found opportunities to optimize the presentation of data for decision making in the form of interactive dashboards using Power BI and geospatial analysis using ArcGIS Online. We determined that Power BI and ArcGIS Online were the right tools for the job, and we created an automated workflow to extract data directly from DHIS2 for processing and display in other tools.

We put this workflow to use in our work on the TRACE project in Lesotho. These visualizations are helping to guide decision makers and contribute to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control.

Why use those additional technologies?

Using Power BI and ArcGIS Online adds analytic value and the opportunity to customize the look and feel of DHIS2 visualizations.

Advantages of Power BI:

Additional data processing/cleaning prior to visualization
Cross-filter and cross-highlight between different visualizations
Drill up and down in geographic hierarchies
Copy and paste specific visuals and export data from visuals

Advantages of ArcGIS Online:

Explore connections between data using customizable interactive maps
Develop professional-looking web applications to visualize data using out of the box configurable tools
Perform statistical and geospatial analysis using your data sets and sources from ESRI’s Living Atlas (library of curated datasets)

How can I get started with my DHIS2 data?

Blue Raster can help you take full advantage of your DHIS2 data. Our expertise in human-centered design coupled with our technical expertise in Power BI and Esri's ArcGIS tools can help you make the best decisions at the right time using your data. Contact us today to get started.