Indonesia’s New Animal Health Information System (iSIKHNAS)
iSIKHNAS
is Indonesia’s new animal health information system. The system uses every day
technology in simple but clever ways to gather data from the field and make it
immediately available to users and stakeholders in ways that are readily useful
and meaningful.
iSIKHNAS
puts the field staff at the centre of the system because they are in closest
touch with the livestock, owners and their communities. Their role is crucial
to the success and strength of iSIKHNAS.
Their record of the cases they see,
the actions and decisions they take as well as the outcomes of cases is
quickly, simply and easily transmitted to iSIKHNAS and then iSIKHNAS goes to
work to manage, report and analyse the data. Farmers benefit from the system by
receiving better and more rapid service from the field staff.
The field staff
benefit because they can offer a better service, target their efforts better,
keep better informed and stop spending so much time doing administrative work.
iSIKHNAS supports para-vets to build stronger relationships with livestock
owners, vets can target the priorities and resources better, and management can
make better decisions based on accurate and up to date data. It is a
win-win-win for everyone.
In
addition, iSIKHNAS will integrate several existing information handling systems
to make them more efficient and available to more users. The integration of
these systems will make their data all the more powerful and will greater
support the work of our decision makers at all levels.
Indonesia
has several existing systems which have managed data for single purposes
including InfoLab for laboratory data and the original SIKHNAS for field
disease reports. These systems lacked real power because they were not
connected. iSIKHNAS is bringing these systems together so that their data is
able to be more efficiently managed and shared by all stakeholders. The data
will be made available to authorised users through a variety of means such as
the iSIKHNAS website or via the reports, charts, spread sheets and maps created
by the system and sent by email or SMS to staff who require them.
Using
iSIKHNAS, we will be able to link laboratory submission data with disease
reports, maps with movement data or outbreak reports, slaughter data with
production and population data, and all smoothly and automatically. That is
great for decision makers at every level and good for everyone who is working
in the animal health sector.
What makes the system special?
Strong founding principles with farmers and field
staff at the heart
To ensure it
meets its goals iSIKHNAS has been built on a number of strong founding
principles which have driven its growth from the outset. They are crucial
features of its success and values which underpin every aspect of its approach
to all its stakeholders.
The System
iSIKHNAS:
- has the people working closest
to the animals and their owners - those involved in data reporting - at
the heart of the system - and they should be rewarded by their involvement
with the system.
- only enhances, supports and
eases the work of those reporting and working for the system.
- does not burden any users'
normal duties but instead brings immediate and tangible benefit to their
work.
- gives more than it takes from
users to ensure that every user benefits from the system.
- provides a service to all its
different users at all times and that this service should be responsive to
changing needs of its users.
The Data
The data
reported to, collected and managed by the system should be
- a natural outcome from the
conduct of routine animal health work, it should never be the goal in
itself.
- only ever entered once, by the
person reporting, at the time of the event.
- automatically checked so that
it is correct at entry
- reported in its smallest, most
immediate form from the field
- never grouped, manipulated or
generalised (aggregated)
- able to be used flexibly
- secure
- immediately available to all
who need it
- provided to users in
accessible, flexible forms, tailored to specific needs
- able to be submitted in a
variety of ways
What is it for?
iSIKHNAS is all about ...
- getting the right information
- to the right people
- at the right time
- in the right form
in order to
help our farmers and secure a healthier future for Indonesia.
Provides a service to all
- Provides real benefits to
farmers and their communities
- Allows everyone to use good
evidence when making decisions
- Gives direct benefits to staff
at all levels
- Improves communication
- Makes reporting faster and
easier
- Removes the routine reporting
burden.
What we can do now that we couldn't do before?
iSIKHNAS is
changing the way we do things in many different areas by giving us access to
data and analysis "in real time". Here are a few examples of the new
power we have at our finger tips as a result. We can now -
- Receive automatically generated
reports about disease reported flexibly tailored to suit the interests of
the recipient.
- Produce maps of livestock
movements and trace animals back to their origin
- Generate tailor-made graphs,
reports and spreadsheets of data of interest to you
- Monitor staff activity
accurately and prioritise training needs
- See daily slaughter data for
all abattoirs in Indonesia
- Monitor the efficacy of
breeding and artificial insemination programs
- Monitor vaccination coverage
accurately
- Monitor and improve treatment
regimes for better health outcomes
- Keep a closer eye on the data
for patterns of disease across the entire country
- Automatically link laboratory
data with surveillance programs
- Link laboratory submissions
with the laboratory system immediately and easily
- Identify animals uniquely and
keep records about their breeding
- and much more
How
does it work?
In districts all over Indonesia, staff working in
animal health, production, movement, quarantine, slaughterhouses and
laboratories are all able to submit data using SMS, instant messaging,
spreadsheets and the iSIKHNAS website as well as to refer to data on the
website or sent to them in automated reports. As soon as data is submitted it
becomes immediately useable for decisions and analysis.
Rural communities throughout Indonesia will now have
faster and better targeted veterinary assistance when they report animal health
problems. Using village animal health reporters (pelsa) as a contact point,
farmers will be able to alert their local dinas staff more quickly and reliably
using a simple, coded SMS message.
Alerts are sent automatically to para-vets and vets
working in the area. Field staff are able to determine the urgency and respond
appropriately with by phone and/or visits. So now, staff throughout Indonesia
can stay better connected with their local communities by responding to alerts
of problems (routine and priority) in a more effective and timely manner.
Farmers get immediate benefits.
Information is submitted to the system by trained,
authorised users. Depending on the volume of data, its origin or purpose, it
can be submitted using different everyday mechanisms - SMS, Instant Messaging,
spreadsheets or via the website. The data is then checked, processed and stored
in the iSIKHNAS database. This database has been carefully designed by
specialists in the field to ensure that it will be flexible, efficient, robust,
and secure for a very long time to come. It dictates how data is organised and
how it can be used.
The website is the key access point for access to
iSIKHNAS data. As each new district becomes involved their data will
immediately become available on-line. It will be stored safely but will always
remain accessable by any user with permission to view the data. The original
data is never manipulated or changed. The hard work of the field staff lies at
the heart of the success of iSIKHNAS and the system is built on the fine
service they are providing to rural communities throughout Indonesia.
iSIKHNAS
dramatically reduces the amount of paperwork and administration required of
field staff, allowing them more time to work on the ground, helping the diverse
communities so important to Indonesia's future food security and prosperity.
iSIKHNAS now lets us make better decisions about:
- how
budget is used,
- how
staff are managed,
- if
treatments are successful,
- how
successful control programs are,
- how
well we are supporting our staff,
- if our
goals are being achieved,
- where
we should focus our resources,
- which
staff require more training.... and the list goes on.
Fast. Easy to use. Secure. Inexpensive. Transparent.
For everyone.
What
does it do?
Data
linkages make data more powerful
Using
iSIKHNAS, we can link laboratory submission data with disease reports; maps
with movement data or outbreak reports; slaughter data with production and
population data; and all smoothly and automatically in easy to use formats.
That is great for decision makers at every level and good for everyone who is
working in the animal health sector.
Flexible
approaches suit all types of users
Data
submission is possible via SMS, Instant Messaging (IM), spreadsheets and the
website. Data viewing is easy via spreadsheets automatically emailed, the
website and SMS system query functions. Direct database access through other
software such as QGIS for mapping offers infinite flexibility for advanced
users.
Automated
reporting promotes greater efficiency and accuracy
The
variety of reports available via the website or automatically sent by email to
users is always expanding. Upon request, new reports can be created for regular
viewing and reporting, analysis and information sharing. The raw data upon
which these reports is based can always be accessed and downloaded for further
use, analysis or reporting.
What are the benefits ?
For
the users in the field
- Fast, easy data entry, direct
from the source
- Immediate response for
important problems
- Lower data entry burden for
everyone
- Automatic data checking
- System query functions - to get
information from the system
- Return messages confirming
report details
- Sustainable, integrated system
using everyday technology
- Regular reports generated automatically
- More time for important work
and less paperwork
For
all users
- Provides service and benefit to
all users
- Replaces a slow, paper-based
system
- Stronger support for decision
makers
- Immediate access to the data at
all levels
- User-friendly, flexible data
sharing service
- Automatic analyses for
different routine purposes
- Real time access to data in
different formats
And
all this ...
- Allows us to help farmers
better.
- Helps to reduce risks to rural
communities and the livestock sector.
Who
is involved?
- Dinas veterinarians and
para-vets
- Other technical staff
- Village reporters, pelapor desa
(‘pelsa’)
- Abattoirs and slaughter houses
- Laboratory staff
- Meat inspectors
- Staff working in quarantine
- Specialist epidemiologists
- Inseminators
- Vaccinators
- Some human health staff
- As well as many farmers!!
How is it managed ?
The
management of iSIKHNAS is overseen by a committee of senior staff from various
directorates general and subdirectorates. This group is responsible for
managing some of the priorities, administration and future growth of the
system. They will have the national goals in mind as well us a clear
understanding of the core iSIKHNAS system principles. They will help guide the
future and support all users with policy, regulatory and administrative
leadership. The committee is supported by the technical expertise from the
system administrators or Champions and the Epidemiology Advisory group.
The
Champions - our system administrators
The
Champions are the people who are most involved in the technological aspects of
iSIKHNAS - the database, the development of output reports, new functions and
additional features. They understand the iSIKHNAS system profoundly and have
the specialist skills required to mould the system to meet the needs of all its
various users.
The
Champions are an enthusiastic and responsive team with a desire to address
problems efficiently, meet specific requests and ensure the continued
smooth-running of the system.
The
Epi Leaders - our epidemiological experts
This
important group acts as an advisory group to the Champions and the Management
Committee. With their guidance and assistance, iSIKHNAS data will be used to
best effect. They will help us to ask the right questions, guide our
understanding of the results of analysis and keep an eye on the 'big picture' -
the data needs for the whole country. To help us to ask and answer the
questions which will inform our decisions and priority setting.
Specialist
Coordinators - our coordinators from the subsections
Each
administrative level has to apoint a coordinator and that person will need a
certain amount of training in how the system works and how to support users
well. Eventually, each region, province and kabupaten will have a designated
coordinator. Some areas may choose to share the coordination between two staff
members to ensure that one person is not burdened with too much responsibility.
District
coordinators play a vital role. The coordinators will support the work of the
important people in the field - our field staff - dinas vets and para-vets,
inseminators, field Kesmavet staff etc. - and the village reporters (pelsa).
These individuals are the source of most data and their continued supported
collaboration is vital to the ongoing strength of iSIKHNAS.
Source: Directorate of Animal Health
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