National Training Course on Leprosy Management Information System took place in Urumchi City, Xingjiang Autonomous Region

On June 15-19, 2011, the National Training Course on Leprosy Management Information System (LEPMIS) in China was took place in Urumchi City of Xingjiang Autonomous Region. The training course was organized by the National Center for Leprosy Control, China CDC (NCLC) and financially supported by Ministry of Health and the Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR). A total number of 53 leprosy managers and LEPMIS Administrator from 30 provinces (provincial system managers in Liaoning and Hebei were absent) and staff of NCLC were involved in the training course. The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Yu Meiwen, Staff of Department for Leprosy Control, NCLC.

Dr. Yan Liangbin, Director of Department of Leprosy Control, NCLC made a speech on the opening ceremony. He emphasized that The LEPMIS has been used for almost one year since the launch of LEPMIS in September in 2010 in Chengdu. High level leprosy managers from Ministry of Health and NCLC paid much attention to the development of the system. The LEPMIS will be one of the key elements of the next ten years programme and will be the major resources of leprosy related essential information. It will be one of key components for evaluation of leprosy control programme. In order to improve the capacity of using LEPMIS and the quality (timeliness, accuracy, completeness) of information, the NCLC arranged necessary funds for National training course on LEPMIS for provincial system mangers. Dr. Yan sincerely hope that all provincial system manager can work on LEPMIS actively and positive attitude and reach the objectives. Dr. Adili Simayi, Deputy Director General of Xingjiang Autonomous Region Center for Diseases Control and Prevention also presented in the opening ceremony and made welcome speeches.

Facilitated by Dr. Yu Meiwen in NCLC, Mr. Li Shaohua, Director of Department for Information Center and Mr. Zhu Bokun, assistant engineer. The components of Filling cases related information, Approving cases related information, Filling management related information, Approving management related information, Management of users, Data reporting were introduced to participants. Through practising on line , the managers improve the capacity of using system. Hopefully, they can provide training system manager at sub provincial level.

The training course was successful and fruitfully. The refresh training course or workshop of the system will be needed in the coming years in order to maintain the capacity of using LEPMIS.