The role of mHealth

going forward

Christian Nyaundi

What is mHealth?

• mHealth is an abbreviation for mobile health,a term used for the practice of medicine andpublic health, supported by the use of mobilephones

• Also defined as the use of mobile devices toimprove health outcomes, healthcare servicesand health research

Why mHealth?

• Relatively inexpensive;

• Faster than a fixed phone;

• Massive global penetration;

Examples of mHealth

• NDoH initiative • Register pregnant

women using mobile phones

• Send them stage-based information by way of SMS

Stock Visibility Solution (SVS)

Examples of mHealth

ChildCount+ registers pregnant women and children under 5 years of age in Kenya

– Also collects basic information about their health to prioritize visits by CHWs

Examples of mHealth

• Anova is currently using mHealth to support PHC reengineering in Mopani, Limpopo

• Work underway to introduce mHealth in City of Johannesburg

Advantages of mHealth

• Enables real-time data capturing

• Improves the quality of data

• Enables two-way communication betweenCHWs and facility managers

• Enables geographically located site-specificcare

• Allows decision support, e.g. referrals, follow-ups, etc

• Does away with paper

User Responses

I can’t read. But as the phone reads out

questions – I can use it

Showing videos to clients makes our job easier. They

also believe us more when I show videos in the mobile

I feel proud using this with women in my

village. It increases my value in their eyes

Home visits are more exciting

with this mobile

From mHealth Alliance, 2013

Threats

• Limited research and knowledge on mHealth impact in health;

• Need to redesign public care delivery systems to accommodate mHealth;

• Coverage and accessibility of technology, e.g. internet, electricity, network coverage, etc.

What needs to happen?

• Clear strategy

• More and more evidence

– mHealth is a tool not a new type of drug

• Change management for health workers

• Resources, resources, resources

– Skills

– Training

– $$$$$$$

mHealth Success

Technology and Resources

Integration to the Healthcare

System

Stakeholder Participation

and Involvement

Appropriate Project Design

Effective mHealth Project

Effective mHealth Project

Going forward?

• The CHW remains the focal point for mHealth

• App for PHC supervisors?

• Strengthening the linkage between programmes

• Quick access to real time data

• Facilitate planning and adequate interventions

Conclusion

• The future of mHealth is bright!

• Too many pilots! Time to implement!

• Need a better understanding of what works,why it works, and how to scale up

• Resources, Resources, Resources