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Wisdom Hove
Wisdom Hove

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

#powerapps #azure #dataverse #powerplatform

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

By Wisdom Hove – Power Platform Consultant | Azure Developer Associate

🌍 Project Background

In 2022, I had the opportunity to design and develop a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) System for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The goal was to help track HIV/AIDS indicators from health facilities across several countries in the region.

We needed to create a multi-lingual, secure, and scalable digital solution that could be used by frontline health workers and policymakers alike.

💡 Why Power Platform?

I selected Microsoft Power Platform because it enabled rapid development, integration, and deployment:

  • Power Apps (model-driven): for data capture and review
  • Power Automate: for real-time workflows and notifications
  • Dataverse: for structured, scalable data storage
  • Power BI: for interactive reports and dashboards
  • Azure Logic Apps: for external data integrations

⚙️ Architecture Overview

  • Users access role-based model-driven apps depending on their country and permission level.
  • Dataverse holds structured data, with relationships for countries, facilities, patients, indicators, etc.
  • Automated flows ensure data validation, notify reviewers, and export reports.
  • Admin users can export pre-built reports and view live dashboards via Power BI.

🧠 Challenges & How I Solved Them

1. Multiple Countries, One Data Model

  • Created a dynamic reference structure for country-specific customizations.

2. Offline Access Needs

  • Provided downloadable Excel templates with Power Automate import capability.

3. Data Security & Governance

  • Used role-based Dataverse security and managed environments.

🎯 Outcomes & Impact

  • Enabled real-time health data collection across 12+ countries.
  • Reduced reporting time from weeks to hours.
  • Empowered health workers with user-friendly tools accessible on mobile or desktop.
  • Contributed to regional HIV/AIDS program visibility and funding justification.

🔧 Tech Stack

  • Power Apps (Model-driven)
  • Power Automate
  • Dataverse
  • Power BI
  • SharePoint
  • Azure Logic Apps

🏁 Lessons Learned

  • Designing for scale and localization is crucial when building humanitarian systems.
  • Dataverse + Power Apps is powerful when aligned with real-world domain models.
  • Power Platform allows small teams to deliver enterprise-grade apps fast — but governance and ALM are key!

📢 More Projects Coming Soon...

I’m currently documenting my work on the Commonwealth GBV and SRH Response System, also built on the Power Platform. Stay tuned!

🧑‍💻 Want to connect or collaborate?

📧 Email: hovewisdom@gmail.com

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