Samuel Thela is HST's Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Technical Advisor, seconded to the eThekwini District Health Office, where he supports the District Office Data Management Team and M&E Manager in measuring programme performance.
Samuel has always had a passion for mathematics and data management systems. Armed with a four-year Nursing Diploma, over the years he has developed and applied his data analysis skills in the health sector.
He joined HST in December 2017 and was seconded to the Zululand Department of Health District Office as a District Information Officer; in January 2019, he was promoted to the position of District Co-ordinator.
"When the vacancy for an M&E Technical Advisor for eThekwini District was advertised, I did not hesitate to apply and was appointed in October 2020," he recalls. "I was led into this role because M&E is an evolving field, and I love to learn new things and apply them in my current work environment."
His role entails providing technical assistance to create and implement appropriate tools for timely, effective and efficient data collection and reporting, while finding and applying innovative ways of managing data without compromising its quality. "I support Programme Managers with data analysis to assess the results achieved against their programme and project targets," Samuel explains, "and I work to enhance their data presentation skills by designing and using interactive analytical dashboards. Together, we also devise, implement and analyse operational research and surveys aimed at determining the feasibility and effectiveness of key programme interventions and evaluating programme results."
To some, this work may seem dry and rather distant from hands-on healthcare service delivery, but in fact it is essential for health system strengthening – because as the saying goes in management circles: 'what one cannot measure, one cannot improve'.
Analytical thinking focuses on facts and figures, using judgement gained through experience and wisdom to identify a single best solution. Creative ability enables one to explore many different options, fresh perspectives and new ideas. As an analytical and creative thinker, Samuel blends these processes for problem-solving, producing practical insights to guide innovation.
He crafts analytic tools which are complex in design but user-friendly for various programmes in the district and within HST. These tools simplify the interpretation of performance results, and enable Programme Managers to make informed decisions with ease.
Data analysis requires not only investigating and understanding the results, but also being able to apply this information in various scenarios. The Technical Advisor's thoroughness and analytical skills therefore assist the Department of Health in achieving optimal outcomes for long and healthy lives for all.
Says Samuel: "This work is important for the health sector because data users such as Programme Managers, District Managers and other decision-makers need quality information from data producers such as Clinicians, Data Capturers and other staff members within a facility or community who use appropriate tools shared by the M&E team."
"As an M&E Technical Advisor, I help to ensure that all the necessary factors are in place to produce reliable data for dissemination and use. Without measuring results, it becomes difficult to tell if a programme is going in the right direction towards achieving its goals, or whether there is a need to pause, reflect, adjust, change direction or revamp the entire programme."
Joslyn Walker – HST's Health Systems Strengthening Programme Manager ‒ agrees: "Samuel is a vital member of the HST team. He contributes to multiple projects, not least our DO ART Project for delivery of community HIV services, and the SA SURE PRO Project for sustainable capacity in HIV and TB care," she observes. "His insightful evaluation and thoughtful application of data for action have been instrumental in our accomplishment of programme breakthroughs."
In Samuel's experience, the most common challenge in this area of work is "when staff at any level, and at the data production level in particular, do not follow the correct procedures," he says. "This undermines data quality, which in turn has negative effects on patient care. For example, if a Clinician fails to document details properly on a patient's clinical record, and the Data Capturer fails to validate the data with the Clinician and thereby captures incorrect or unreliable records, the whole information value chain is compromised."
To address this challenge, Samuel is responsible for crucial capacity enhancement through provision of in-service training and continuous mentoring and coaching, and he develops essential tools to assess data quality at regular intervals.
He approaches his typical work day in a systematic manner, as is required for the M&E function. "First I go through a set of priorities for the day and check e-mail," says Samuel, "and then I do in-depth analysis of a data set, finding relationships between variables while offsetting any data quality issues, and advise the district management or a Programme Manager accordingly."
Samuel's hunger for knowledge is evidenced by his having undertaken numerous courses for non-degree purposes, such as Basic and Applied Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Analysis, Facilitation and Mentoring, Geographic Information Systems, High-impact Presentation, and an International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) for MS Access and Advanced Excel skills. "Through self-development," he notes, "I have learnt and apply VBA programming language to enhance Excel dashboards."
He shares a key reflection that: "M&E should not be viewed as a separate programme or set of activities, but as an integral part of the programme or project from the inception phase and throughout its life. So it is important for the Data Management and M&E team to be part of every programme meeting where results are presented, and that they contribute to any new directions for shaping the programme or project."
Samuel has powerful goals and aspirations: "I want to give HST the best that I have, to gain a Master's degree one day, and of course, to earn more money!"
In his leisure hours, Samuel spends time with his extended family – especially his grandchildren ‒ and enjoys church activities.