DHP NAMIBIA

During our collaboration with the World Health Organization, I was part of the team developing a Digital Health Platform for the Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services. This was a full-stack MVC web application, and my primary contribution was on the backend.

On this project, I really got to apply various technologies in a practical setting for the first time, including using Entity Framework Core and Git for version control in a team. I actively worked with our PostgreSQL database, and this experience truly highlighted for me just how essential a well-structured database is for ensuring smooth integration and robust functionality across a system.

Working with Entity Framework Core was particularly valuable. It streamlined our data management processes and helped me write cleaner, more maintainable code. However, this project also brought into sharp focus the complexities of healthcare data integration without universal standards. The need for seamless, reliable data flow across diverse health systems underscored the critical role that robust interoperability frameworks like FHIR play.

Ultimately, this experience reinforced my understanding that effective data utilization is a cornerstone of improving health outcomes, and it solidified my commitment to developing secure, interoperable, and impactful healthcare technology solutions.

Core Data Model for the Digital Health Platform

This diagram illustrates the core data model that underpinned the Digital Health Platform. It showcases the relationships between key entities such as patient registration, patient visits, and billing, emphasizing the foundational structure we built to ensure data integrity and support complex healthcare workflows. My contribution involved designing and migrating these models to our PostgreSQL database, ensuring seamless data integration and robust functionality across various modules.

Fig 1.0

Core Functionality: Patient Admission & Data Capture

To illustrate the practical application of the data model and backend logic, this screenshot provides a glimpse into the Patient Admission and Registration interface. This critical module was central to capturing patient biodata and initial visit information within the Digital Health Platform.

Implementing the data binding logic in C# within our MVC controllers, connecting user interface fields directly to the underlying People, Patients, PersonIdentifiers, and Addresses tables in our PostgreSQL database.

Ensuring robust backend validation and data integrity for every piece of information entered, from "Medication given" to "Next of Kin Contact."

Developing the controller actions that securely processed and stored this sensitive patient information, aligning with the detailed patient flow and ensuring accurate record creation for subsequent visits and billing.

Fig 2.0

Challenges: Interoperability Insights

Working on this Digital Health Platform truly highlighted the significant challenges of data exchange in healthcare. Without the explicit adoption of common interoperability standards like FHIR or HL7 from the outset, we frequently encountered:

Custom Integrations: Connecting various health systems, like those at Windhoek Central Hospital, meant a constant back-and-forth. Instead of a straightforward plug-and-play, each connection required bespoke solutions, turning every data source into a unique conversation with the health personnel who were our product owners.
Data Inconsistency: Ensuring uniform data quality and meaning across different formats was a continuous effort. It often felt like we were always in meetings, trying to translate and standardize how different departments recorded the same patient information, making sure everyone was truly on the same page.
Limited Scalability: Expanding the platform or adding new features proved more complex due to the lack of a standardized data model. Every potential new integration meant more discussions and custom work, rather than a clear path forward, impacting how quickly we could bring new value to healthcare services.

These experiences underscored the critical importance of robust interoperability standards for building truly connected and scalable digital health solutions.

Project Collaborators & References

Should you wish to verify my contributions or learn more about the project from a broader perspective, you may reach out to the following team members:

Shange Ndakunda
- Role: Supervisor & Senior Developer
- Contact: teflondepa@gmail.com

Elieserijo Hamburee
- Role: Team Member (Developer)
- Contact: ujamahamburee@gmail.com

Vuyelwa David Ruwodo
- Role: Team Member (Developer)
- Contact: vuyelwadr@gmail.com

Alina Amuthenu
- Role: Project Manager
- Contact: aamuthenu@unam.na

Important Note: The contact information above is provided with the understanding that permission has been granted by each individual for its public display for professional verification purposes. Please respect their privacy.

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