Presentation made at the "E-Literacy benefits and challenges – Local Community Centered Workshop" Bulange-Mmengo-Uganda January 2013

1. Nalwoga Clare Samba-2013

2. Definition:
eHealth is short for ELECTRONIC HEALTH
In simple terms, the WHO defines eHealth as the
application of ICT (Information and Communication
Technology) in health care.
In broad terms, eHealth has been defined as the use
of ICTs, locally and at a distance, to strengthen health
systems and address public health priorities
(Commonwealth Secretariat, 2009.)

3. Mechanisms of eHealth:

4. What can eHealth do?

5. In summary:
 Health workers make better treatment decisions;
 Hospitals can provide higher quality and safer care;
 Governments become more responsive to health
needs;
 Information systems support the development of
effective, efficient, and equitable health systems;
 Policymakers and the public become more aware of
health risks;
 Individuals have better access to the information
and knowledge they need to make informed choices
for their own better health.

6. Uganda eHealth (mHealth) pilots

7. Why have eHealth pilot projects failed
to mature as programs in Uganda?
NB: Not only in Uganda, but a number of
developing countries.
• The basics of eHealth have not been transferred
to the eligible candidates through the traditional
means: teach, educate, train and mentor.
• eHealth is not a concept for only the IT and ICT
personnel but the health professional, social
scientists, the artists and the ordinary citizen.

8. How to support eHealth initiatives
and sustain them for a long term
 Teach the basics of eHealth ( what is eHealth? The
uses? The different tools…train, educate, mentor…)
 Early and active engagement of stakeholders
(nurses, doctors, health workers, citizens… encourage them
by showing what other countries are doing)
 Consideration of culture (e.g train female health
workers on how to use phones to teach women on
reproductive health)
 Link communities with IT support companies
e.g. AIRTEL, UTL, WIFI companies through their respective
Corporate Social Responsibility

9. References:
• CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT., 2001. eHealth in
Developing Countries, The Future of Healthcare
• Commonwealth Secretariat, 2009
• Professor Majeed A., 2010. Using information technology to improve
patient safety. http://medical-centre.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
• JEANNINE,L., 2011. Scaling up Mobile Health: Elements necessary for the
successful Scale up of mHealth in Developing Countries. White Paper
Commissioned by Advanced Development for Africa. pp 10
• OECD/OCDE., 2010. The Role of Information and Communication
Technologies. OECD Health Policy Studies: Improving Health Sector
Efficiency. OECD. pp.27
• Sean Blaschke, Technology for Development Specialist at UNICEF
Uganda

10. Mwebale nnyo!
(Thank you very much)