Namibia hosts regional learning visit on digital civil registration systems

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Government of Namibia, in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has hosted a joint regional learning visit focused on strengthening digital birth notification and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems.

The initiative brought together technical teams from Ethiopia, Senegal, and Botswana to exchange knowledge and explore best practices in deploying interoperable and data-driven civil registration systems.

Speaking at the event, Lucia Iipumbu, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, highlighted the critical role of CRVS systems in establishing legal identity, supporting inclusive development, and strengthening public health systems.

Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services, emphasized that digital transformation extends beyond technology deployment, noting its importance in reshaping service delivery to ensure timely, coordinated, and data-driven healthcare.

Namibia showcased its locally developed digital platform for real-time birth and death registration, which enables seamless data integration across institutions. The system is designed to support improved health planning, resource allocation, and service delivery outcomes.

The learning visit reflects growing momentum across Africa to modernize civil registration systems as part of broader digital transformation strategies aimed at enhancing governance, public health, and access to essential services.