With PAHO’s technical support, Suriname strengthened maternal and perinatal health surveillance and decision making through the institutionalization of the Perinatal Information System (SIP). The digitalization of approximately 4500 perinatal records in the country’s two largest maternity hospitals, including the Academic Hospital responsible for 60% of annual deliveries, substantially improved data completeness and timeliness. 

PAHO supported standardized procedures, on the job training, specialist engagement, and targeted digital infrastructure investments, strengthening facility level capacity to collect, analyze, and use perinatal data. Improved data quality enabled robust analysis and the production of the 2025 annual SIP report, supporting evidence based planning and monitoring of maternal and newborn health services. Importantly, PAHO advocacy and technical assistance contributed to the inclusion of SIP in the Ministry of Health’s draft biennial budget and initiated interoperability with the national electronic health record under the Information Systems for Health (IS4H) framework. 

These steps strengthened sustainability and integration within national digital health strategies, contributing to improved quality of care, more timely identification of risks, and progress toward reducing preventable maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Photo caption: Training in data analysis for the Perinatal Information System. 
Credit: PAHO