1. The Role of Technology in Tackling the African Health-Skills Gap: Experiences from the Field Berhane Gebru Director of Programs AED-SATELLIFE Center for Health Information and Technology Academy for Educational Development (AED)

2. History AED – Academy for Educational Development Pioneered email in Africa Developed a continuum of technologies Created and GUIDE GATHERdata

3. Examples Mobile Health Information System (MHIS) Project Implemented in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Uganda Health Information Network (UHIN) Implemented in Five Districts in Uganda

4. Collaborative, public/private partnership Implemented at Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex (PEHC) – 2008 -2010 Mobile Health Library to improve nursing practice Smart-phones for delivery of health information Example 1: MHIS Project

5. Technology 3G Healthnet Content & E-mail Handheld Mobile Library - PEHC “static” content “dynamic” content

6. Needs Assessment & Source of Content Users involved in determining the scope of content Content from local and international sources Focus on “just-in-time” information for use at point of care

8. Graphic elements are not lost and display well;

10. MHIS Mobile Library Home page

11. MHIS Mobile Library Eastern Cape Department of Health Diseases and conditions

12. MHIS Mobile Library Standard Treatment Guidelines – Hospital level

13. Results of evaluation 89% reported improved nursing practice through information access

14. … Evaluation Results user-friendly, useful tool for communication and information access very helpful both in the work setting and at home for accessing health information Nurses used information daily

15. International Development Research Centre, Canada Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Example 2: Uganda Health Information Network (UHIN) Jointly implemented by AED-SATELLIFE, Uganda Chartered HealthNet (UCH), Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, District Health Offices 2003 - 2010

16. Data is transmitted seamlessly to districts via wireless access points over cellular network Health workers receive health content for better quality of health service at the point of care PDAs and smart-phones are used for data capture at the health centers

19. Lyntonde

20. Mbale

21. Manafwa

23. Content delivery: “Static” content “Dynamic” content Content broadcast 3 times a week Daily news Feedback

24. Outcomes: Improving Overall Patient Care

25. Outcomes: Improving Diagnosis

26. Outcomes: Choice of Lab Tests

27. Outcomes: Better choice of Drugs

28. Lessons Learned & Challenges Feasible and improves healthcare delivery Cost-effective Power supply Continuous use vs. workload Effective user support

29. … Lessons Learned & Challenges MOH involvement from the very beginning Content must address health workers needs Regular feedback from users Progressive improvement in qualification recognized by MOH an issue for health workers

30. Thank you! For further information contact: Berhane Gebru Director of Programs AED-SATELLIFE Center for Health Information & Technology bgebru@aed.org Web: www.healthnet.org and www.aed.org