This document summarizes a proposed project to develop a women's health technology application that can be used on basic mobile phones in resource-constrained settings. The application would allow health workers to access helpful health information and connect with experts to answer questions during patient consultations. It would be initially developed for use in Senegal, Nigeria, and Kenya by the Population Council, a non-profit organization focused on reproductive health and development issues. The proposed application aims to improve health workers' ability to help patients and engage with experts remotely using technology that can operate on basic phones, as smartphone penetration is still low in many target areas.

1. Women’s Health Technology
App for Resource
Constrained Settings

2. projectkeyfacts
• Quick switch - poll – how many of you are familiar
with the Population Council?
• How many know what we do?

3. The
Population Council
conducts research to
address critical health and
development issues. We are
working to stop the spread
of HIV, provide more
reproductive choices, and
ensure that young people
lead full and productive
lives. Our research leads to
better policies, programs,
and technologies that
improve lives around the
world.

4. projectkeyfacts
1952
17
Locations
Founded by John D. Rockefeller, 3rd
Offices around the world – HQ in NY
Focus countries for RH women’s project –
Senegal; Nigeria; Kenya

5. projectkeyfacts
The simple story.

6. Training for
health workers in
Senegal

7. Refresher
Training

8. projectdetails Questions will
come up after
training and
resources needed
to assist.
This tech
(feature phone)
may be available
and an option.

9. projectdetails This would be great,
but not yet possible
in our context.

10. projectdetails

11. projectdetails

12. projectname
• What if we could create a workable technology solution to
provide helpful/useful/specific health information for health
workers and allow it to build up as used
• Description of planned product: A tech tool that could function
on a LCD (least common denominator) device – feature
phone. Smartphones penetration at about only 12% available
in Africa.
• Product uses: Health workers; mid-wifes; physicians in clinics
• User story: Lots of different work in women’s clinics; need
something to help the health workers regarding our specific
public health project; there exist constraints
• Target market: Initially for use in Senegal; Nigeria; Kenya, but
allow to scale to other areas

13. projectreason
• Improve the ability to
• Allow health workers to obtain needful information
when questions come up during health interventions –
this can be for many different projects
• Engage with an expert if needed – may not be
synchronous
• Permit the system to build up as used

14. projectreason
Example of useful ICT that is workable.
Who wants to take a survey?

16. Example of an
mHealth data
collect tool:
Audio
Computer-assisted
Self-interviewing
(ACASI)

18. projectimportance
• Internal assets to leverage: IT group and tech savvy
researchers
• Project Context: Research-based INGOs need
innovative solutions for developing country use with
less developed infrastructure
• Strategic Benefits: Lots of buzz around m/eHealth
technologies; Reduce duplication of efforts –
improve efficiencies

19. projectdetails
• Project timeline: 4-6 months
• Key milestones: Design idea - Initial prototype - Pre-test
• Internal project approval: IT Director; research team
• Total budget: $10-15K
• Which parts of your project require external help?
Innovative design integrated with low-end feature
phones
• What would an ideal partner bring to the table?
Experience with building apps for developing countries

20. Ideas. Evidence. Impact.
The Population Council conducts research
and delivers solutions that improve lives
around the world. Big ideas supported by
evidence: It’s our model for global change.

21. Projectdetails recap
• Contact:
• Stan Mierzwa (Director, IT)
• smierzwa@popcouncil.org