The government of Kenya, in conjunction HP East Africa and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) has launched a KES 19 million worth project that will enable health workers in the field detect and manage disease outbreaks through smart phones.
 

The disease surveillance web based system will reduce the inaccuracies experienced using previous SMS based reporting systems which lacked a clear structure.

Currently, 97% of health facilities in the country have telecommunication network; this will enable the new response system to be integrated with 250 HP Palm Pre-Smart Phones. The phones, first of their kind in the continent, were donated by HP to the Ministry of Public health and Sanitation disease control unit.
The integrated new disease monitoring system and the phones will facilitate an early detection and response of diseases.  This platform will create awareness of public health threats in the country as part of mobile health monitoring technology.
HP extends this technological support to the government through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) program.
The project will enable health workers to collect data through a web operating system (webOS) application, upload the same, analyze and share the data with organizations like National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Program (Nascop).
“We thank HP for donating to this program as we believe by embracing ICT, the government will improve on its disease detection and surveillance methods,” said Dr. S. K Shariff, the Director Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.
Using the system, health workers will gain access to specific cases and location information from their mobile devices in the field. Health officers in the area and members of the Ministry will then receive a text message alerting them of the outbreak

The HP Regional Managing Director, Mr. Mbwaya said his company will continue offering technological support to help improve other sectors in the country and facilitate efficiency and effectiveness.

Mr. Mbwaya said through the flexibility and ease of development on the webOS platform, a surveillance application enables health workers to perform real time surveys from the field. Health workers are able to enter accurate, context rich data through pictures, video audio, GPS coordinates, qualitative and quantitative information about the case.

The project was launched at the Pan Afric Hotel. The initiative is being steered by The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with HP, Strathmore Business School and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).