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HIFC
completes Nokia data gathering pilot in Zimbabwe
Humanitarian
Information Facilitation Centre (HIFC)
May 06, 2011
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HIFC recently
completed a successful pilot using Nokia handhelds to conduct an
investigation into the issue of access to essential medicines among
ordinary Zimbabweans.
Though no longer
considered to be in a humanitarian crisis but rather in early recovery;
Zimbabwe has in the past decade experienced outbreaks the gamut
of which is inclusive of the cholera and measles crises of 2008-2009
and 2010 respectively.
Both technological
and bureaucratic constraints muddled the communication of accurate
and critical information from affected zones to organizations offering
humanitarian assistance. For various reasons, humanitarian organizations
on the ground were unable to timeously collect and send information;
resulting in sometimes catastrophic delays in decision-making and
aid assistance. In other cases, hurried or delayed research processes
have yielded inaccurate results at a time when diseases were evolving
into epidemics.
Recognizing
the need for expedient and timely flow of information in times of
humanitarian crises, there was need explore faster, more efficient
data gathering methods that would make the work of organizations
a lot easier as well as prevent needless loss of lives. It is against
this background that HIFC with the support of IMS sought to undertake
ground-breaking pilot project utilizing Nokia Data Gathering (NDG)
software and the technology of mobile telephony to collect, send
and analyse data in near real time. NDG is a software system developed
by Nokia to replace traditional paper-based questionnaires that
allows collection of data using mobile phones.
HIFC is the
first organization to pilot this tool in Zimbabwe. In partnership
with Community
Working Group on Health (CWGH) - a local NGO working in
community health - HIFC trained 13 community health monitors on
the use of Nokia phones complete with the NDG software for data
collection.
The 13 monitors conducted a survey in five districts of the country,
administering questionnaires to health workers and patients alike
and sending data pertaining to the drug availability status of over
30 health institutions.
Key findings
indicate that the problem of shortages of painkillers and drugs
for common ailments is widespread across the country and attributable
to stock outs possibly related to expiration, non- replacement and
pilferage among other reasons. A survey conducted amongst the 13
monitors who participated in the pilot revealed that the NDG tool
is a relatively easy technology that can be used across a range
of age groups and by any individual who has handled a mobile phone
before. Although connectivity was poor in some of the districts,
70% of the monitors were able to send data as soon as they collected
it. The fact that data goes straight from the field into a pre-existing
database means increased accuracy through elimination of transcription
errors and the ability to make informed and prompt responses is
enhanced.
The pilot project
enabled HIFC to map and collate key information for humanitarian
non-governmental organizations (HUNGOs) pertaining to GPRS connectivity
status of various districts and the reactions of interviewees and
respondents to the use of the new technology. However, the key issue
is that the NDG is a practical solution to field data collection
bottlenecks related to accuracy, speed of transmission and analysis
as well as convenience. Various partners working in the humanitarian
sector have already expressed interest and HIFC expects to roll
out this service to more HUNGOs this year.
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