Uganda Health Information Network

The Uganda Health Information Network (UHIN) is a collaborative project of Uganda Chartered HealthNet (UCH), AED-SATELLIFE, Makerere University Medical School and Connectivity Africa of the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada. The project is aimed at expanding access to health and medical information and supporting data collection and analysis through the use of handheld computers, also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) connected via the local GSM cellular telephone network.

The handheld computers are used to send and receive information and data via free standing access points that use the cellular phone network to communicate. The project was launched in October 2003. AED-SATELLIFE and UCH have deployed 350 handheld computers with necessary accessories and ancillary equipment. Twenty access points have been installed at strategic locations in the collaborating districts.

The access points are battery-operated units that contain a GSM cellular transceiver and a data cache; each access point can support up to 1,000 handheld units. The access point communicates with a server located at UCH headquarters in Kampala by making cellular phone calls, and with the handheld units via their infrared beam. When users "beam" to the access point, information is uploaded and downloaded.

To test and demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology for the establishment of a two-way health information system.
To clearly identify all associated operating costs.
To determine the level of user support and training required to sustain the full benefits of the system.
To build UCH’s capacity to disseminate medical content relevant to local conditions and to support data collection and analysis.
To establish standard operating procedures and protocols for the overall functionality of the system.

The project has already demonstrated the viability of this technology for collecting and disseminating field data and broadcasting continuing medical education material. UCH is also developing a long-term sustainability plan for the network, documenting training and user support requirements, ongoing operating costs for the network, and technology-related challenges and solutions, and engaging in ongoing monitoring and evaluation to support both the expansion of this network and replication in other locations.

	Uganda Health Information Network	A joint project of AED-SATELLIFE, Uganda Chartered HealthNet and Makerere University Faculty of Medicine Undertaken with financial support from the Canada Fund for Africa and the International Development Research Centre, Canada
	Project Supporters and Contributors: Canada Fund for Africa International Development Research Centre	The Uganda Health Information Network (UHIN) is a collaborative project of Uganda Chartered HealthNet (UCH), AED-SATELLIFE, Makerere University Medical School and Connectivity Africa of the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada. The project is aimed at expanding access to health and medical information and supporting data collection and analysis through the use of handheld computers, also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) connected via the local GSM cellular telephone network. The handheld computers are used to send and receive information and data via free standing access points that use the cellular phone network to communicate. The project was launched in October 2003. AED-SATELLIFE and UCH have deployed 350 handheld computers with necessary accessories and ancillary equipment. Twenty access points have been installed at strategic locations in the collaborating districts. The access points are battery-operated units that contain a GSM cellular transceiver and a data cache; each access point can support up to 1,000 handheld units. The access point communicates with a server located at UCH headquarters in Kampala by making cellular phone calls, and with the handheld units via their infrared beam. When users "beam" to the access point, information is uploaded and downloaded. The objectives of the UHIN are: To test and demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology for the establishment of a two-way health information system. To clearly identify all associated operating costs. To determine the level of user support and training required to sustain the full benefits of the system. To build UCH’s capacity to disseminate medical content relevant to local conditions and to support data collection and analysis. To establish standard operating procedures and protocols for the overall functionality of the system. The project has already demonstrated the viability of this technology for collecting and disseminating field data and broadcasting continuing medical education material. UCH is also developing a long-term sustainability plan for the network, documenting training and user support requirements, ongoing operating costs for the network, and technology-related challenges and solutions, and engaging in ongoing monitoring and evaluation to support both the expansion of this network and replication in other locations.
	Collaborating Companies: WideRay Cerience Perseus PalmOne Computing	Technical Report to IDRC on the first year of the Uganda Health Information Network. Preliminary Project Reports: User Survey Cost/Benefit Study Regional Conference - Proceedings "Handheld Computers in Africa: Exploring the Promise for the Health Sector" in Entebbe, Uganda on May 12-13, 2004. For more information contact: Berhane Gebru Project Director AED-SATELLIFE Project participants at Ugandan health sites