Real-time Data, Real-time Results

February 4, 2022

This week’s Fist Bump goes to Ifeanyi Okeke, VectorLink Nigeria’s Database Manager, and the VectorLink Nigeria team for facilitating the successful roll-out of VectorLink Collect for entomological monitoring across all six sentinel sites where the team supports longitudinal vector surveillance.

The team started transitioning from a Microsoft Access-based system to VectorLink Collect in mid-October. The team developed a phased roll-out and training approach, participating in, and then conducting a series of trainings virtually and in-person in November and December to introduce the system to different members of the team—principal Investigators overseeing the surveillance activities at each site to the data entry clerks and entomology technicians entering the data. In total, 18 people were trained across the six sentinel sites where VectorLink Nigeria conducts entomological surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring activities. 

As of last week, longitudinal monitoring data across all six sites are entered, managed, and analyzed within the VectorLink Collect system. This transition to the VectorLink Collect database, in addition to enhancing the ease of data entry and management, will ensure the availability of near-real time data to drive vector control decision making within the country. The Microsoft Access database did not provide for real-time access to data captured and stored, and data analysis and management had to be carried out manually, which was cumbersome and provided lots of room for human error.

As a result, the team is looking forward to sharing the dashboards with key stakeholders, such as the NMEP, PMI, academic institutions, and research organizations in the coming weeks and preparing for the deployment of mobile data collection in four of the sentinel sites in February or March. 

Special thanks to HO M&E Backstop Lilly Siems for providing top-notch support and accompanying the team as they get up to speed on the new database. 

Well done and keep it up, VL Nigeria!