title: An evaluation of a global vitamin and mineral nutrition surveillance system.
abstract: Evaluation of public health surveillance systems is essential to ensure that problems of public health importance are monitored efficiently and effectively. The WHO's Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System (VMNIS) was evaluated from the perspective of public health surveillance and informatics. Steps included: engaging the stakeholders of the evaluation; describing the surveillance system; focusing the evaluation design; gathering credible evidence regarding system performance; justifying and stating conclusions and recommendations, and sharing lessons learned from the evaluation. Following this assessment, WHO has begun major efforts to upgrade and expand the VMNIS and now the database is more flexible and efficient. The database evaluation summarized in this paper provides a good example of how public health evaluation frameworks can lead to improved surveillance and enhanced information systems, thus making progress toward the ultimate goal of improving public health.
authors.forename: Nancy Jennings
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Aburto
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Luz Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: De-Regil
authors.forename: Vipat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuruchittham
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rob
authors.forename: Raheel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peña-Rosas
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins