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June 28, 2007
SMS for Public Health in Developing Countries
A timely report by the Voice of America reminds us that mobile phones are connecting the developing world with 1 million new phones added to networks in less developed countries each day. As the network grows so new uses arise. Voxiva: http://voxiva.com a company based in Washington DC has been offering technical solutions --many based on SMS technology-- for innovative use of mobile phones for public health.
Voxiva's SMS based flagship application, HealthNet (known locally as TRACnet: http://voxiva.com/news/050307.asp winner of the TIGA Prize for Health) has been implemented in Rwanda. HealthNet is an information management solution that allows governments, international organizations and NGOs, to collect data collection from field workers and health care staff in real time and supports structured two way communication to facilitate feedback and supervision. HealthNet uses SMS to support program monitoring, drug and critical supply tracking, supervision and training of staff, and lab reporting.
Other Voxiva applications are in use in Peru, Indonesia, and the provinces of Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India.
The Voice of America podcast (3:30 minutes) is available on:
http://podcasts.yahoo.com/player?s=c16a13a04de7fa8f4e68b19278c080b3&e=660
VOXIVA's website is: http://voxiva.com
Posted by Adam at June 28, 2007 02:28 PM