Ms. Merina Marcelino is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). She holds a Master of Science in Computer and IT Systems Engineering (2019) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Information Technology (2014), both from UDSM. She joined the university as a Tutorial Assistant in 2015 and was promoted to Assistant Lecturer in 2020. Between 2017 and 2018, she participated in a Challenge Driven Education (CDE) training program at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, sponsored by SIDA.
Since 2018, Ms. Marcelino has been actively involved with the UDSM DHIS2 Lab as an Information Systems Analyst. Her work focuses on the digitalization of health information systems to enhance data-driven decision-making in Tanzania’s healthcare sector. Notably, she has contributed to projects such as the development of a DHIS2-based application for tuberculosis (TB) mobile clinics, facilitating electronic data collection and management for TB screening and treatment in underserved communities.
Ms. Marcelino has also been involved in initiatives aimed at strengthening health facility-level digitalization. Through action research conducted in regions like Dodoma and Bahi, she has worked on empowering health facilities with the capacity to self-report and analyze data using DHIS2, addressing challenges related to resource limitations and top-down data management approaches.
Her contributions extend to the broader DHIS2 community, where she has presented on topics related to health information system security and privacy, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sensitive health data in digital platforms.
Ms. Marcelino’s work exemplifies a commitment to leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and build sustainable digital health infrastructures in Tanzania.