Strengthening Health Information Systems in Post-COVID Nigeria – Shaba Damilola

By Dolapo Lawal

As Nigeria began rebuilding from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps in the nation’s health-information systems became impossible to ignore. Data delays, inconsistent recordkeeping, and fragmented communication between local and state authorities had complicated the pandemic response and slowed decision-making. Among the professionals contributing to post-crisis reform was Damilola Shaba, a Health Information Management specialist and Public Health Scientist whose work focused on improving the quality, coordination, and reliability of health data at the community level.
“COVID-19 reminded us that good data saves lives,” Shaba reflected. “When information is late or incomplete, entire communities are left one step behind the disease.”

Throughout 2021, Shaba worked with record officers, local surveillance teams, and hospital administrators to identify the practical barriers to efficient reporting. She provided guidance on the use of standardized electronic templates and simple digital-entry systems that made it easier for facilities to submit timely, accurate data. Her efforts helped reduce duplication in patient records and encouraged consistency in reporting formats across several local health centers.
Recognizing that technology alone would not solve structural challenges, she placed equal emphasis on training and communication. Shaba organized short workshops that focused on data validation, confidentiality, and accountability—themes often overlooked in busy primary-care environments. The sessions helped record clerks and nurses see their work as part of a larger national surveillance effort.

“Every entry tells a story,” she said during one training. “Accurate information helps decision-makers understand where help is needed most.”
Her work also included advising on clearer reporting channels between local facilities and state epidemiology units, helping to shorten the time between case detection and official review. The improved coordination strengthened contact-tracing capacity and supported immunization-drive logistics later in the year.
Colleagues noted Shaba’s practical approach—focused less on complex software and more on achievable system changes that frontline staff could maintain without constant external support. She advocated for incremental improvements that respected local realities, believing that sustainability mattered more than speed.

“We don’t need perfect systems,” she explained. “We need systems that people can trust and use.”

By the end of 2021, several regional health offices had adopted her documentation checklists and reporting templates for use in routine surveillance. These small but steady improvements contributed to better organization of case data for infectious-disease monitoring and vaccination campaigns.

The year marked an important turning point in Shaba’s professional journey. Having seen first-hand how information shapes policy and preparedness, she began exploring how digital health tools and analytical models could further support public-health planning—a focus that would later guide her research into artificial intelligence and environmental health.

“If we want to prepare for the next outbreak,” she said, “we must keep learning from the last one. Data is where that learning begins.”
Damilola Shaba’s 2021 contributions reflected quiet but significant progress—evidence that resilient public health depends not only on advanced technology, but on the people committed to using information to protect others.