Open Project

Scaling Use of Health Data: A Decentralised Approach

Project Description

The Scaling Use of Health Data: A Decentralised Approach project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in partnership with The Health Foundation (THF), Western Cape Government Health and Wellness (WCGHW): Metro Health Services (MHS), Health Intelligence (HI) and Emergency and Clinical Services Support (ECSS) together with the City of Cape Town (CCT) aims to support data-driven sub district/substructure level interventions to improve TB and HIV outcomes in the Western Cape (2023-2026). The project aims to contribute to the efforts of the WCGHW and CCT’s Health Directorate to achieve the best possible health outcomes for the population of the Western Cape, particularly for TB and HIV.

The current project builds on work undertaken in the Western Cape as part of phase 1, 2020 – 2023, which aims to increase effective data utilisation to improve TB, HIV and diabetes outcomes. However, scaling of the data use cases to improve linkage and retention in care was impeded by the state of readiness of the tools developed by the PHDC and data access challenges. Significant strides have been made with the piloting, iterative improvement and increasing access to these tools during the previous grant period. Several tools are ready for scaling to impact patient outcomes, and we are now positioned to realise the full benefit of the data systems that have been established.

Scaling Data

Scaling Data

The Scaling Data Team

8th TB conference, Durban

8th TB conference, Durban

100F Workshop with over 120 participants

100F Workshop with over 120 participants

Launch of the Scaling Data Use to Improve Patient Care project

Launch of the Scaling Data Use to Improve Patient Care project

Phasa Conference

Phasa Conference

The goal, aims and objectives in the current grant proposal align with the provincial ambitions outlined in Healthcare 2030 which is intended to enhance the health systems responsiveness to people’s needs and expectations; with careful consideration given to person-centeredness, providing integrated, continuity of care over the life course, and ultimately, to achieving universal health coverage.

The Scaling Use of Health Data: A Decentralised Approach grant supports targeted activities in the Cape Metro District which encompass Metro Health Services, the City of Cape Town Health Directorate and one sub-district in Rural Health Services.

Goals/Outcomes

The overall goal of the Scaling Use of Health Data grant is to improve patient care and contribute to the efforts of the Western Cape Government’s Department of Health and Wellness and the City of Cape Town’s Health Directorate to achieve the best possible health outcomes for the population of the Western Cape, particularly for TB and HIV, within a financially constrained environment.

It does this by supporting interventions that drive more effective, efficient, data-driven TB and HIV decision-making at the subdistrict and substructure levels.

Five interlinked objectives

Establish a learning health system and increase use of aggregate and person-level data to lead to positive outcomes for people living with HIV and TB
Five interlinked objectives shown in the graphic above contribute to the grant aim:

1.

To increase the use of aggregate and person-level data to improve TB and HIV outcomes in the subdistrict/substructure.

2.

To establish a learning health system, with quality improvement embedded within management systems and processes.

3.

To improve linkage and retention in care for People living with HIV (PLHIV) by optimising implementation of differentiated models of care and the use of Health Technology Assessment Laboratory (HTAL).

4.

To increase TB case finding , including through implementation of the new targeted universal TB testing policy.

5.

To scale up effective approaches to improve treatment initiation and retention in care for people living with TB (PWTB), including the use of Tuberculosis Treatment Action List TTAL.

Partners

Key partners include City of Cape Town Health Directorate (CCT) and Western Cape Government Health and Wellness’ (WCGHW’s) Emergency and Clinical Services Support (ECSS), Health Intelligence (HI), Metro Health Services (MHS), and Rural Health Services (RHS).

Partnership Opportunities for Scaling use of Health Data: A Decentralised Approach

Your partnership, and donations make a difference as we develop tools to improve HIV and TB outcomes.

Ways to Partner
Contact Us

About SAPRIN

SAPRIN is a network of Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) nodes in South Africa, funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and hosted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). SAPRIN integrates three established HDSS nodes in South Africa, namely, MRC/Wits University Agincourt HDSS in Bushbuckridge District, Mpumalanga (1992); University of Limpopo DIMAMO HDSS in the Capricorn District of Limpopo (1996), and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) HDSS in uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal (2000), linked to the University of KwaZulu-Natal to create a network of harmonised population-based cohorts for use by the wider research community and national policymakers.

To understand the particular challenges that urban communities face and the impact of rural-urban migration, SAPRIN has started expanding into urban areas. Along with C-SHARP, two other urban nodes have been established in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Zodwa Velleman - The Health Foundation Board Member

Ms Zodwa Velleman

Group Executive: Regulatory and Corporate Affairs

Zodwa Velleman is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa with international experience in litigation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and corporate and commercial law. She completed her articles at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Africa (NSA) where she later worked as an associate, before joining Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, then ranked as the third-leading law firm in the United States.

She holds a B Juris and LLB from UWC and graduated cum laude from the GIBS Leadership Development Programme. She has also completed a short course in Public Policy at the London School of Economics.

Zodwa enjoys spending time with her family, mentoring young lawyers, and practising pottery.

Prof Lara Fairall

Prof Lara Fairall

Director of the Knowledge Translation Unit

Professor Lara Fairall is the Founding Director of the Knowledge Translation Unit (KTU). She left clinical medicine to join the UCT Lung Institute where she was charged with localising, implementing and evaluating a South African version of the WHO Practical Approach to Lung Health which became PALSA. Lara has led the expansion of PALSA to comprehensive primary healthcare across the life course, and its evolution into PACK. She has also established a partnership with the British Medical Journal (BMJ) to underpin the evidence base of the clinical recommendations made in PACK and to help spread PACK to other low middle-income countries (LMICs).

Lara is passionate about Universal Health Coverage and support for health workers to enable them to connect the communities they serve with the evidence-based care they need.

She is also an honorary Professor in the Department of Medicine at UCT and Professor and Chair in Global Healthcare Delivery at the King’s Global Health Institute at King’s College London.

Dr Japie du Toit

Dr Japie du Toit

Non-Executive Director

Senior Manager of Life Healthcare

Dr du Toit is a medical doctor and business graduate with extensive experience in the public and private health sectors. He has been involved in the Western Cape Department of Health, focusing on central hospital management, budget administration and facilitating public-private partnerships. In the private sector, he has worked as a specialist healthcare advisor at a leading consulting firm and is now with Life Healthcare, a private hospital group in South Africa.
Dr Mandla Moyo

Dr Mandla Moyo

Non-Executive Director

Chief Executive Officer of the Sports Science Institute

Dr Mandla Moyo is passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing. In addition to his role as Financial Director at National Health Group, he has worked with various healthcare organisations to advance this mission. Dr Moyo brings expertise in risk management, sustainability and governance, backed by 17 years of experience at Ernst & Young, a Big Four global advisory firm, where he served as a partner for 11 years. He has also acted as a strategic advisor to institutions across the public and private health sectors in the Western Cape. As a financial expert, his qualifications and professional memberships include Chartered Accountant (SA), MCom, BCompt [cum laude] (UNISA), Certificate in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He also holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (Healthcare Management) from Liberty University, Virginia, USA. Mandla enjoys running and spending time outdoors with his family.
Mr Carl Liebenberg

Mr Carl Liebenberg

Non-Executive Director

Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Terayon Capital Partners

Carl Liebenberg has over 25 years of senior-level experience in financial services, spanning international tax, private banking, asset management and corporate finance. He has advised on equity and debt transactions in sub-Saharan Africa in sectors including waste management, retail, media, mining, ICT, financial services, infrastructure, clean energy and agriculture. Carl holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree in Finance and Economics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State and an MBA from the University of Cape Town.
Ms Letebele Jones

Ms Letebele Jones

Non-Executive Director

Communications Specialist

Letebele Masemola-Jones is a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience across various sectors, including film and television production, corporate communications in the oil and gas industry, international philanthropy and the legislative arm of the South African state. A global citizen with a diplomatic flair, she has travelled extensively across North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe for professional and personal endeavours. These experiences have enabled her to break down communication barriers and successfully navigate diverse environments. Letebele is passionate about the power of communication to build, develop and transform lives across society. Educated in Zambia, the UK, Canada and the United States, she holds a Higher National Diploma, two degrees in Public Administration, Communications, and Film and Video, and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University. Until the end of 2024, she served as the Communications and Engagement Manager for SKAO in South Africa.
Dr Reinder Nauta

Dr Reinder Nauta

Non-Executive Director

Founder and Managing Director of National Health Group

Dr Nauta is a healthcare entrepreneur who pioneered low-income capitation models in South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from Stellenbosch University and furthered his studies in Primary Health Care Development at Mahidol University in Bangkok. With extensive executive-level experience in the healthcare industry, he currently serves as a director of Akacia Healthcare, a local, independent pharmaceutical manufacturer. Dr Nauta is the founder and former Managing Director of CareCross Health, one of South Africa’s leading GP networks and managed care companies. He is also a past chairman of Occupational Healthcare South Africa (OCSA) and CareWorks, a leading HIV/AIDS management company. Beyond the healthcare industry, Dr Nauta is pursuing a personal dream — managing his guest farm, Stanford Valley, in Overstrand.
Harry Grainger, CEO of The Health Foundation, 2025

Mr Harry Grainger

CEO of The Health Foundation
Harry Grainger is a visionary leader with over 30 years of experience in finance and strategic management. He began his career in accounting, gaining insight and mastering the fundamentals of business operations. This foundation led to a career-long journey in strategic management and executive leadership at various private and civic companies. As CEO of The Health Foundation, Harry is dedicated to long-term value creation, fostering a culture of innovation and driving sustainable growth. Outside the office, you’ll find Harry experimenting in the kitchen or tending to his garden.