Honduras strengthens secure vaccination and digital transformation efforts by implementing DHIS2
With the support of the Pan American Health Organization and HISP, the government of Honduras has conducted a pilot that demonstrated how the use of DHIS2 ESAVI improved the efficiency of information management.
Honduras has taken an important step in the digitization of vaccine safety surveillance with the implementation of the DHIS2 ESAVI system, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and with the technical support of HISP. This initiative is part of the country’s ongoing effort to strengthen vaccine safety, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of new vaccines such as QDengue, which is the vaccine against dengue.
Since 2021, Honduras has worked closely with PAHO to join the regional post-immunization adverse event surveillance system (ESAVI). In 2022, the country adopted the DHIS2 ESAVI system, an advanced digital tool to monitor and manage vaccine adverse events across different levels of the health system.
The recent DHIS2 ESAVI pilot, conducted in six priority health facilities and two health regions in August 2024, demonstrated the tool’s value in optimizing workflows and improving responsiveness to adverse events. During this pilot, led by the Ministry of Health (SESAL) with the support of the General Directorate of Normative Framework (DGVMN), the Information Management Unit (UGI) and PAHO, the integration of DHIS2 into the health system was evaluated and adjustments were identified prior to its nationwide deployment. The use of DHIS2 ESAVI facilitates the consolidation of standard processes for adverse event surveillance, and provides a robust digital platform for evidence generation.
This implementation is part of the broader partnership between PAHO and the HISP Center at the University of Oslo (HISP UiO), and represents a significant effort to improve vaccine safety in Latin America. The national implementation team was supported by PAHO with the collaboration of HISP Colombia and the global DHIS2 team, bringing to the local level the regional configuration of ESAVI, which in turn is an adaptation of the AEFI module created by HISP UiO for WHO, and which is currently used in Honduras, Suriname, Brazil and Paraguay.
As Honduras moves into the production phase with DHIS2 ESAVI, the country continues to lead the digital transformation in vaccine safety surveillance, which contributes to strengthening public health standards regionally and globally.
