Live Session 11: DHIS2 From Scratch: From an Empty System to a Working Dashboard

Build a DHIS2 system from the ground up, from local setup and metadata through data entry, indicators, visualizations, and a working dashboard.
DHIS2
Data visualization
Dashboards
Live session
Author

Mohamed Sillah Kanu

Published

September 30, 2026

This live session takes participants from an empty local DHIS2 instance to a working malaria programme dashboard. The lesson covers the full workflow: setting up the system, defining its metadata, entering and checking data, calculating indicators, building visualizations, and managing access.

NoteSession and materials

Who this is for

This session is for public-health practitioners, monitoring and evaluation teams, health-information-system administrators, and others who want a practical introduction to configuring and using DHIS2. The lesson begins with the core concepts and does not assume previous DHIS2 administration experience.

What you will learn

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

  1. Explain how DHIS2 represents aggregate and case-based health data.
  2. Run a local DHIS2 instance with Docker and navigate its main apps.
  3. Configure organisation units, data elements, category combinations, data sets, and data-entry forms.
  4. Enter and validate aggregate and case-based data.
  5. Define indicators and check their calculations.
  6. Build tables, charts, thematic maps, and a programme dashboard.
  7. Create users, export data, customize the system, and install apps.

Before the session

To run DHIS2 locally, prepare:

  • a Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu computer;
  • Docker Desktop or Docker Engine with at least 4 GB of memory assigned;
  • about 5 GB of free disk space;
  • Git or the ability to download a ZIP; and
  • a modern web browser.

The local setup uses DHIS2 2.42.1 with PostGIS. The first image download is about 1 GB and can take several minutes, so complete it before the session when possible. Topic 2 includes setup and troubleshooting instructions for each supported operating system.

WarningCSV exercise files pending

Topic 3 describes an optional CSV route for importing organisation units, but the referenced orgunits_import.csv and orgunit_groups_template.csv files were not included in the supplied repository. Participants can complete the organisation-unit exercise manually. We will add the CSV files if they become available.

Session outline

The 18 topics build on one another:

  1. Understand and install DHIS2: learn the data model and start a local instance.
  2. Build the metadata: create organisation units, data elements, category combinations, a data set, and its entry form.
  3. Enter data: work with aggregate and case-based records and design custom forms when needed.
  4. Turn data into information: define indicators and create charts, maps, and a dashboard.
  5. Operate the system: manage users, download data, customize DHIS2, and add apps from the App Hub.

Training environment

The supplied Docker configuration is intended for local learning. A production DHIS2 deployment requires secure credentials, HTTPS, backups, monitoring, and an operational maintenance plan. Change the default administrator password after the first login, even in the local training instance.

The lesson and session materials were prepared by Mohamed Sillah Kanu and are republished by AMMnet with his permission.