Due to this worrying situation and the necessity to improve the collection of information, TSF, in collaboration with PATH (an international non-profit organisation that aims at enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health) has been reinforcing SILAIS’ capacities in Information and Communications technologies.
Duration of the programme: 24th October 2009 - 8th July 2010
In order to monitor the spread of the diseases and to conduct mobile health actions, TSF implemented, for the first time, a very innovative system based on a widespread, cheap and solid technology, the GSM, using FrontlineSMS software. To set up the program, TSF used FrontlineSMS software which turns a laptop and a mobile phone into a central communications hub. Once installed, the program enables users to send and receive text messages with large groups of people through mobile phones.
Following the installation of the system, TSF organised trainings for all the beneficiaries of the project. The health units and SILAIS staff were trained on the application’s functionalities and available services.
Collection and transmission of crucial health data from the field
Once the forms are received, the server stores the information and puts them in a database in order to facilitate statistical analysis, on Excel format for example.
Thanks to this system, SILAIS is receiving and gathering daily reports and messages from the health units. Meanwhile, SILAIS is also able to communicate important information to them through SMS (such as an alert or a warning about coming meetings for example) or give them automatic answers to predefined questions.
STATISTICS OF THE 1ST MONTH (FROM 10/24 TO 11/23)
Forms received by the server: 1554
Messages sent by the server: 1775
SMS sent by health units: 1721
Critical stock: 133
Health units
Classic dengue: 229
Haemorrhagic dengue: 101
Swine flu: 154
Arrival of a patient to hospital from a health centre: 134
Hospital
Classic dengue: 280
Haemorrhagic dengue: 224
Swine flu: 299
By providing communication links between health structures and SILAIS, TSF allows the Health Ministry to have more accurate information about the disease spread within Managua and can quickly survey and assess the needs in affected areas. By collecting key indicators from all affected areas, the objective is to implement effective and adequate measures to stop the spread and avoid an uncontrollable epidemic. Through this program, TSF participates in strengthening health systems in Nicaragua.
TSF helps health professionals use advanced methodologies such as smart phones and open-source software. Mobile devices are great tools to track and transmit crucial data in order to detect an epidemic threat at an appropriate time.