ABSTRACT
There is an emerging view that progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the African Region may be better than what is currently being reflected by official statistics. This is believed to be a result of the lack of recently updated data on the MDGs in the Region. In order to strengthen the monitoring of the MDGs; it is important to look for viable options for the timely collection; processing; analysis of relevant and quality data; and the dissemination of information products based on this data. It is essential to improve the institutional capacities in countries in order to overcome the weak data sources and data management. The monitoring of progress on the MDGs could be strengthened by: improving the content; frequency; quality and efficiency of national health surveys; strengthening birth and death registration and cause of death scertainment; improving the availability of demographic data by completing the 2010 census round; improving surveillance and service statistics; enhancing the monitoring of health systems strengthening; and; strengthening country analytical and evaluation capacity; and data use for decision-making. The latter requires the establishment and strengthening of national health observatories charged with health statistics analysis; synthesis; dissemination; sharing; and use of information and evidence