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Pilot of the Uganda Health Information Network is launched
Holly Ladd, Executive Director, SatelLife
2003-09-25

This month Uganda Chartered HealthNet and SATELLIFE, in collaboration with Makerere University Medical School and Connectivity Africa of IDRC, will launch the pilot for the Uganda Health Information Network. Two new tools will be introduced to facilitate communication within the health sector including the handheld computers that have been tested over the last year. Experience with the handhelds has been quite positive and users are eager to employ the technology in their work in many settings (an evaluation of SATELLIFE's first handheld project can be found at www.bridges.org/satellife). The second technology that SATELLIFE are introducing this month is an access point or service point that will enable handheld users to communicate data between their unit and a centrally located server over the cellular telephone network. The device we are deploying is called a Jack and is made by WideRay (www.wideray.com). The Jack is a battery operated unit that contains a data cache and a GSM cellular transmitter/receiver can support up to 1000 separate handhelds. Data is exchanged using the infrared ports standard on all handhelds. Data is uploaded onto the Jack and stored there until retrieved by an individual user or transmitted to the central server at HealthNet in Kampala. The pilot project that will be implemented by HealthNet in Uganda will connect two districts and enable the exchange of news, articles, and surveillance data back and forth creating a store and forward information exchange system. The network will support continuing medical education, data collection for planning and resource allocation, research and surveillance and will eventually provide individual users with access to their own email. The pilot, the network and the content is being developed in collaboration with health workers, educators, NGOs, district and national health organizations in Uganda that have generously given their time to help guide the work to date. The pilot is expected to be evaluated after six months and a decision will be made at that time on country-wide deployment. (Source: Holly Ladd, HIF-net at WHO e-discussion list, 22 September 2003.) Holly Ladd is the Executive Director of SatelLife (HealthNet). SatelLife is an international non-profit organization that fosters the global exchange of information among health professionals, focusing on the needs of the developing world. Its services include global discussion groups (eg AFRO-nets), GetWeb, and a range of email publications. hladd@usa.healthnet.org, web site http://www.healthnet.org/

This month Uganda Chartered HealthNet and SATELLIFE, in collaboration with Makerere University Medical School and Connectivity Africa of IDRC, will launch the pilot for the Uganda Health Information Network.

Two new tools will be introduced to facilitate communication within the health sector including the handheld computers that have been tested over the last year. Experience with the handhelds has been quite positive and users are eager to employ the technology in their work in many settings (an evaluation of SATELLIFE's first handheld project can be found at www.bridges.org/satellife).

The second technology that SATELLIFE are introducing this month is an access point or service point that will enable handheld users to communicate data between their unit and a centrally located server over the cellular telephone network. The device we are deploying is called a Jack and is made by WideRay (www.wideray.com). The Jack is a battery operated unit that contains a data cache and a GSM cellular transmitter/receiver can support up to 1000 separate handhelds. Data is exchanged using the infrared ports standard on all handhelds. Data is uploaded onto the Jack and stored there until retrieved by an individual user or transmitted to the central server at HealthNet in Kampala.

The pilot project that will be implemented by HealthNet in Uganda will connect two districts and enable the exchange of news, articles, and surveillance data back and forth creating a store and forward information exchange system. The network will support continuing medical education, data collection for planning and resource allocation, research and surveillance and will eventually provide individual users with access to their own email.

The pilot, the network and the content is being developed in collaboration with health workers, educators, NGOs, district and national health organizations in Uganda that have generously given their time to help guide the work to date.

The pilot is expected to be evaluated after six months and a decision will be made at that time on country-wide deployment. (Source: Holly Ladd, HIF-net at WHO e-discussion list, 22 September 2003.)

Holly Ladd is the Executive Director of SatelLife (HealthNet). SatelLife is an international non-profit organization that fosters the global exchange of information among health professionals, focusing on the needs of the developing world. Its services include global discussion groups (eg AFRO-nets), GetWeb, and a range of email publications. hladd@usa.healthnet.org, web site http://www.healthnet.org/

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