From Data to Action: Strengthening the Use of DED 2.0 in Garut

SUMMIT and the Garut District Health Office continue to collaborate in strengthening the use of DED 2.0, with a shared focus on improving data utilization and quality to support better health services.

Behind every number recorded in a digital system, there is a story. There is a health worker documenting a service, a process taking place at a health facility, and a decision that may eventually be shaped by the information captured through the system.

That is why the journey of health service digitalization does not end when a system is introduced and begins to be used. The next challenge is making sure that the technology is truly utilized and that the data it produces can be trusted.

This was among the key topics discussed during the monthly meeting of the Digitally Enabled District 2.0 (DED 2.0) project team from Summit Institute for Development (SUMMIT) and the Garut District Health Office on September 4, 2026.

The meeting provided an opportunity to take a closer look at how DED is being used in the field. Monitoring DED utilization was conducted to understand how far the system and its available features have supported the daily work of health workers, while also identifying areas that still require further strengthening.

For a digital system, usage figures are not the only measure of success. Equally important is how well the system becomes part of users’ daily routines and helps them access the information they need.

From discussions on DED utilization, attention then turned to one of the most important foundations of digitalization: data quality.

Success is measured not only by usage but also by the benefits it provides in supporting the user's work.

A digital system may generate large amounts of data, but that data can only provide meaningful value when the information is complete, accurate, consistent, and properly recorded. Without adequate data quality, information that is intended to support decision-making may not reach its full potential.

For this reason, data quality socialization became another key focus of the discussion between SUMMIT and the Garut District Health Office. Strengthening awareness of data quality is expected to go beyond a message shared during meetings and become part of everyday data recording practices.

As a next step, the team plans to develop dedicated communication materials on data quality. These materials will be designed to communicate the importance of data quality in a simpler, more practical, and easy-to-understand way for users working in the field.

This step matters because maintaining data quality is not solely the responsibility of the system. It depends on everyone who interacts with data, from recording and checking information to using it to understand the health conditions of communities.

Ultimately, digitalization is not simply about moving processes from paper to screens. It is about building a more connected way of working, generating more reliable information, and helping health workers make decisions based on what is actually happening in the field.

Through the continued collaboration between SUMMIT and the Garut District Health Office, DED 2.0 is expected to become more than just a system that is used. It can become part of a stronger and more responsive health data ecosystem.

Because when data is recorded properly, used appropriately, and trusted by those who need it, it becomes more than just numbers in a system. Data begins to tell a story, and that story can help move health services forward.

The SUMMIT team is also planning the development of communication materials regarding data quality.