Kano Connect
Enabling timely storage and sharing of information related to health service delivery
Project start date : 03/03/2014
Beneficiary country : Nigeria
About the project
For many years, healthcare delivery in Kano State in Northern Nigeria was hampered by poor communication flow among healthcare workers. This left many underserved communities with little or no access to health services. Health decision makers had difficulty getting timely information from practitioners – as a result, many Nigerians were prevented from receiving vaccines and other essential medical supplies. In response, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), eHA developed the Kano Connect platform to improve communication between the staff of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB) at various levels – from state to health facilities. eHA distributed over 1,416 phones in a customized Closed User Group (CUG) to healthcare workers, enabling them to share and store timely information using the Kano Connect platform. Each phone is equipped with Open Data Kit (ODK), an app which allows the healthcare workers to easily submit data regarding healthcare planning or vaccine management via questionnaires. eHA also trained health workers across Kano State to use the applications on the Android platforms. The Kano Connect dashboard is an analytic tool for visualizing the different data reported by Kano Connect users. The dashboard enables end-user-managers to monitor key performance indicators that convey how well the different Zones, Local Government Areas (LGAs), and Health Facilities (HFs) are performing. Since the platform’s development Kano Connect has significantly improved timely reporting, accountability, and overall effectiveness of the health sector; for example, 1227 out of 1416 (87%) of users trained are actively using the platform. The Kano State Government is, as a result, better able to collect, track, and act on key health performance indicators.
Healthcare delivery in Northern Nigeria has been hampered by poor communication flow among healthcare workers. This has left many underserved communities with little or no access to health services.
This solution improves the timeliness, accountability, and overall effectiveness of reporting across the health sector in Kano State.
N/C Full-Time equivalents
4 Employees
N/C Volunteers
2 Service providers
1 416
Number of beneficiaries since launch
Target audience
- Healthcare professionals and structures (hospitals, healthcare centres/clinics, health networks)
Project objectives
- Improved treatment
Materials used
- Smartphone
Technologies used
- Mobile app (Android, iOS, Windows Phone, HTML5, etc.)
About the sponsor
eHealth Africa
Founded in 2009, eHA’s mission is to build stronger health systems through the design and implementation of data-driven solutions that respond to local needs and provide underserved communities with tools to lead healthier lives. Based in Africa, eHA achieves its mission through establishing new standards in health delivery and emergency response through the integration of information, technology, and operations.
eHA has country offices in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Germany and works across West Africa and are currently executing projects in many countries in the region, including Chad, Cameroon, DRC, Niger, and others. eHealth Africa has over 700 staff working across these offices and project offices. Leveraging an integrated approach as much as possible, eHA focuses on the following 5 areas:
Health Delivery Systems
Public Health Emergency Management Systems
Disease Surveillance Systems
Laboratory [&] Diagnostic Systems
Nutrition [&] Food Security Systems
Sector : Healthcare (professionals and structures)
Country of origin : Nigeria
Contact : Sponsor website Project website
Offline use
Yes
Open source
Yes
Open data
No
Independent evaluation
No
Partners