The National Health Observatory of Cameroon: a decision making tool for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals to achieve Universal Health Coverage

Objective The objective of this study was to describe the health observatory establishment process in Cameroon. Methods WHO proposes a 4-phase process for setting up health observatories. The preliminary phase (maximum 1 year) to ensure foundations such as political commitment, identification of the team, host structure, inventory of data sources and development of an action plan. The start-up phase (1 to 2 years) to make strategic choices, set up collaborations, start activities, develop the digital platform. The strengthening phase (3 to 5 years) to draw the long-term financing plan; ensure organisational, legal and ethical consolidation; develop a five-year strategic plan; establish scientific partnerships and collaborations; ensured additional staffing. The phase of full operation to ensure the 4 key functions of gathering, analysing and synthesising, sharing and networking. Results: The establishment of the Cameroon National Health Observatory(NHO) did not follow this linear WHO prescription. During the preliminary phase which lasted 5 years, the political commitment was marked by the development of the legal framework of the NHO, the construction of premises and assignment of dedicated staff. The NHO fully started its activities in 2015 following an advocacy workshop with all the relevant stakeholders. During this workshop a stakeholder mapping and situational analysis were conducted. A five-year action plan was developed and a mapping of data sources conducted. Despite challenges related to the long-term financing plan, organizational and legal consolidation of the NHO remain, the fully operational phase was marked by the official launch of the Cameroon Health Data collaborative in 2016, the production of the Health Profile, the 100 Key Health Indicators Monitoring Report and the digital platform. Conclusion: The NHO has contributed to reducing the fragmentation of the national health information system and has produced information that can be used directly by policymakers to track SDGs to achieve the ...