Creating Health Facility Maps in QGIS: A Step-by-Step Guide for Zambian Researchers

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become essential tools for public health research and planning. In Zambia, health facility mapping helps identify gaps in healthcare coverage, optimize resource allocation, and respond to disease outbreaks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through creating professional health facility maps using QGIS, the leading open-source GIS software.

Why QGIS for Health Facility Mapping?

QGIS is a powerful, free, and open-source geographic information system that has become the tool of choice for many public health researchers in Zambia. Unlike proprietary software that requires expensive licenses, QGIS is freely available to download and use, making it accessible to students, researchers, and health professionals across the country.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• QGIS Software - Download version 3.36.3 from our software downloads page (password: MARTOOTECH@QGIS)
• Health Facility Data - CSV file with facility names, coordinates, and attributes
• Base Map Data - Administrative boundaries for Zambia (provinces, districts)
• Basic Computer Skills - Familiarity with spreadsheets and file management

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project

Open QGIS and create a new project. The first and most important step is to set your project's coordinate reference system (CRS). For Zambia, we recommend using WGS 84 / UTM zone 35S (EPSG:32735), which provides accurate distance measurements.

Project → Properties → CRS → Search '32735' → Apply

Step 2: Adding Base Map Data

Base maps provide context for your health facility locations. Zambia's administrative boundaries can be downloaded from the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) or the Central Statistical Office. Once downloaded, add the shapefile to QGIS:

Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer → Select your shapefile → Add

Style the administrative boundaries to create a clean basemap:

• Right-click the layer → Properties → Symbology
• Choose 'No fill' for fill color
• Set border color to dark gray (#666666) with 0.5mm width
• Apply and OK

Step 3: Importing Health Facility Data

If you have coordinates for your health facilities, import them from a CSV file:

Layer → Add Layer → Add Delimited Text Layer → Select your CSV file → Set X field as longitude, Y field as latitude → Set CRS to WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) → Add

For facilities without coordinates, you can geocode addresses using the MMQGIS plugin or digitize points directly from satellite imagery.

Step 4: Styling Health Facilities

Effective maps communicate information through visual hierarchy. Style your health facility points based on facility type, ownership, or other attributes:

1. Hospitals: Large red squares (⬛) - size 4.0
2. Health Centres: Medium blue circles (●) - size 3.0
3. Health Posts: Small green circles (●) - size 2.0
4. Clinics: Small orange circles (●) - size 2.0

Layer Properties → Symbology → Categorized → Value column: 'facility_type' → Classify → Assign colors and sizes → Apply

"The best maps don't show everything - they show the right things. Use color and size intentionally to guide the viewer's attention to the most important information."

— Dr. Mwamba Banda, GIS Specialist

Step 5: Creating Catchment Areas

Buffer analysis helps visualize the geographic coverage of health facilities. To create 5km and 10km catchment areas:

Vector → Geoprocessing Tools → Buffer → Select your facility layer → Distance: 5000 meters → Run → Repeat with 10000 meters

Style the buffer layers with transparency to avoid obscuring underlying features:

• 5km buffer: Light green, 30% transparency
• 10km buffer: Light yellow, 30% transparency

Step 6: Adding Labels

Clear labeling is essential for map readability. QGIS offers powerful label placement options:

Layer Properties → Labels → Single Labels → Value: 'facility_name' → Set font size to 8pt → Buffer: white, 1mm → Placement: Offset from point

For dense urban areas, consider using callout lines or interactive tooltips instead of permanent labels.

Step 7: Creating the Print Layout

A professional map includes essential elements beyond the geographic data:

• Title: "Health Facility Distribution in Lusaka District"
• Legend: Explain symbols, colors, and buffer zones
• Scale Bar: Show distance reference
• North Arrow: Orientation indicator
• Credits: Data sources, author, date
• Inset Map: Location within Zambia

Project → New Print Layout → Add Map → Add Legend → Add Scale Bar → Add North Arrow → Add Label → Export as Image/PDF

Conclusion

Creating professional health facility maps in QGIS is a valuable skill for Zambian public health researchers. With practice, you can produce publication-ready maps that effectively communicate spatial patterns and support evidence-based decision-making.

Remember that mapping is both science and art. While the technical steps are important, the most effective maps are those that clearly communicate their intended message to the target audience.

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