1. Monitoring Mass Drug Administration
mHealth in Cameroon
Along with the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Public Health,
Sightsavers set up a mobile Mass Drug Administration (MDA) data collection and
monitoring system in 2014. Data was collected during the onchocerciasis/lymphatic
filariasis MDA in 10 districts covering 74 health facilities in the Southwest region.
Monitoring System
Information on 951,511 people and 777,631 treatments came in via SMS. Field teams were able to monitor MDA as it
happened, completely transforming the way they worked. Instead of the project sending treatments based on the
previous year’s census, the census was done first, and utilizing online reports the appropriate amount of medication was
sent to each community. During both the census and treatment District Managers were able to monitor how close each
community was to their target number, calling or visiting problem areas.
Distributors bring their
registers to Health
Facilities weekly
Chiefs of Center verify
data, aggregate, and
send via SMS
Health District Data
Managers monitor data
and take action
Regional and National
NTDs Coordinators
monitor progress
Cut down
time spent
by 1/3
Faster MDA
6.7%
treatment
increase
100% data
for regional
meeting
More treatments
$68k saved
on drugs &
monitoring
Impact
Improved decision
making
Census and treatment
lasted for only two
months compared to the
control area where the
entire process took three
months.
Money saved
The mHealth area saw
a 10.2% increase in
treatments distributed
over the previous year;
the non-mHealth control
area saw a 3.5% increase.
In the control area, only
55% of data was available.
In addition, 90% of data
was available for district
appraisals compared to
40% in the control area.
$13,500 was spent on
monitoring in 2014
compared to $31,000 in
2013; tablet loss reduced
from 28,385 in 2013 to
8,532 in 2014.

2. Technology
The SMS for Life platform in Cameroon was set up by the National
Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) in 2013 and later joined by
Sightsavers’ NTDs program. The program now embraces a variety
of partners in a public-private initiative, including the NMCP,
Clinton Health Access Initiative, UN Population Fund, GIZ, North
American Aerospace Defense Command, MTN, Malaria No More,
Novartis, and Sightsavers.
Greenmash’s mango platform is the technical backbone behind
SMS for Life. Cloud-based mango accepts data through
smartphones, SMS, USSD and web, with data available in online
reports, by email, and as text reminders.
Censused
(M/F)
Treated
(M/F)
Adverse effects
(M/F)
Refusals
(M/F)
Scale up
By the end of 2016, 580 health
facilities in 57 health districts will be
monitored by Sightsavers using
mHealth tools.
The platform is also available to
other organizations working on
NTDs in Cameroon.
Sightsavers
present, but no
MDAs done
2015
scale up
2016
scale up
Keys to Success
Immediately incentivizing Health Facility Workers. In the Cameroon
program, data uploaders automatically receive an incentive of airtime once
they’ve sent in.
Having a strong technology partner. Greenmash negotiated shortcodes
and rates with mobile operators, helped with platform setup and led user
trainings.
Creating enthusiasm in country. The team transferred their excitement
about the benefits of the system – starting with the MoH and going all the
way down to the Community Directed Distributors.
for more information contact Sarah Bartlett, mHealth advisor for Sightsavers, at
sbartlett@sightsavers.org