How I Built a Multi-Country HIV Data Collection System Using the Microsoft Power Platform

Wisdom Hove, a Power Platform consultant, designed and developed a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) System for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2022. The goal was to track HIV/AIDS indicators from health facilities across several countries in the region. The system needed to be multi-lingual, secure, and scalable, and accessible to frontline health workers and policymakers. Microsoft Power Platform was chosen for its rapid development, integration, and deployment capabilities. The system used Power Apps for data review, Power Automate for real-time workflows, Dataverse for structured data storage, Power BI for interactive reports, and Azure Logic Apps for external data integrations. The architecture included role-based model-driven apps, automated flows, and Power BI dashboards. The system overcame challenges such as multiple country customizations, offline access needs, and data security. The outcomes included real-time health data collection, reduced reporting time, and empowered health workers with user-friendly tools. The project contributed to regional HIV/AIDS program visibility and funding justification.