mHealth4Afrika showcased during IST-Africa 2017 in Namibia

05 June 2017

mHealth4Afrika organised a workshop as part of the Scientific Programme of IST-Africa 2017, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia from 31 May - 02 June. IST-Africa 2017 is the twelfth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research Conferences. It was Hosted by the Government of Namibia through the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, and Supported by the European Commission and African Union Commission.

The Final Programme featured an Opening and Closing Plenary Session and a Scientific Programme with 40 thematically focused sessions featuring over 190 presenters from public, private, education and research organisations in 35 countries. There was a full track for e(m)Health throughout the Scientific Programme. 

The mHealth4Afrika workshop was very interactive in nature, with plenty of questions and discussion with the participants. The presentations provided insights into the mHealth4Afrika objectives and co-design approach undertaken with the Ministries of Health and health clinics in the four participating countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa). The comparative findings from the baseline study and the implications for the alpha and beta prototypes were shared. The alpha validation was undertaken with clinics across the four countries during Q4 2016, which provided valuable insights into requirements for the beta system.

mHealth4Afrika partners who presented during the workshop sharing insights and experienced included: IIMC, Ireland; NMMU, South Africa; Chancellor College, Malawi and University of Oslo, Malawi.

Participants had the opportunity to use the CE approved sensors that the nurses will be using at the point of care in mHealth4Afrika intervention countries during the beta pilot. 

mHealth4Afrika also participating in a coordination meeting with other African-focused projects funded under the Horizon 2020 ICT-39-2015 Call (its4land and WAZIUP), organised by IST-Africa. Each project presented their objectives and achievements to date and any challenges they are facing. This knowledge sharing session was very informative and the projects brainstormed in relation to potential solutions to practical challenges being faced in different environments.