Home
Contact us
ICT for Health
The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) call upon the global community to drastically improve the health of pregnant women, children under 5, and those at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS — by the year 2015. However, many communities in developing nations continue to struggle to access quality healthcare services.
The Problem
- Specialized and emergency healthcare personnel are scarce
- Access to roads is often limited & health services are hours or days away
- Communication between healthcare centers is unreliable--causing potentially dangerous delays in initiating patient referrals
- Resources for monitoring and training rural health workers are limited
ICT For Health Solutions
MAHENDI is partnering with Inveneo and Smart Solutions to spearhead ICT For Health, a special project to connect health workers and patients, improve healthcare services and save lives in rural Nepal.
Who:
MAHENDI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working with rural communities to develop, utilize and protect systems, institutions and other investments to improve maternal health.
Inveneo is a San Francisco-based social enterprise that develops Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for underserved communities in the developing world.
Smart Solutions is a cutting-edge IT firm and Inveneo-certified ICT partner (ICIP) based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Smart Solutions conducts technical ICT project planning assessments, ICT installation and basic ICT maintenance training for local stakeholders.
What:
ICT For Health projects equip rural health centers and district-level hospitals with ICTs to improve the quality, accessibility and cost-efficiency of rural healthcare services. Health centers are equipped with audio/visual communication and data-sharing networks comprised of:
- Inveneo Computing Stations — ultra low-powered computer workstations & LCD monitors
- Hub Servers with Long-distance WiFi — low-powered wireless 2.4 GHZ 802.11 b/g network connections
- Inveneo Communication Stations — VoIP-enabled phone communications units
- Software solutions for Audio/Video (AV)
- Solar-power energy units — specially designed solar energy systems requiring only 4 hours of charge to power ICTs for 24 hour periods
Where:
The ICT For Health pilot project will launch in Rasuwa District, Nepal. Two (2) rural healthcare centers and the District Hospital will be equipped with a comprehensive ICT network to strengthen a healthcare system servicing 5,000+ people.
Why:
ICTs offer practical, cost-efficient solutions to strengthen rural healthcare services and save lives. ICTs can be used to:
- Monitor the management of remote healthcare centers & staff
- Initiate telemedicine practices to expedite patient diagnoses & referrals
- Stimulate general communications with district healthcare networks
- Promote remote health worker training to cut costs
- Broadcast community health messages & educational programs
- Forge strong connections between district health offices, local healthcare providers and community members
Strategy & FAQ
A 7-Step Approach
ICT For Health follows a 7-step approach to plan, implement and evaluate project impacts on healthcare, health outcomes and cost-savings in care provision--and to ensure local stakeholders are financially and technically prepared to maintain ICT investments long-term. Review our 7-Step Strategy approach >>
FAQ
Here are some FAQs…
