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Phase: Innovation Submission Opportunity Areas: Continuously monitor progress of urban immunisation programs

A web-based application for tracking immunization progress at private health facilities within Kampala; Uganda.

A web based portal to integrate immunization electronic medical records of the private health facilities in the public health data system.

Photo of Louis Kamulegeya
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Data clerk at private health facility collects immunization records from register into the electronic medical records (EMR) system. The contacts of scheduled immunization beneficiaries are downloaded from the web portal and uploaded into an SMS platform called RapidPro customized for reminders and access to health information via SMS campaigns. This EMR data is stored on servers and accessible for analytics via re-dash to different stakeholders for decision making. Data clerk at private health facility collects immunization records from register into the electronic medical records (EMR) system. The contacts of scheduled immunization beneficiaries are downloaded from the web portal and uploaded into an SMS platform called RapidPro customized for reminders and access to health information via SMS campaigns. This EMR data is stored on servers and accessible for analytics via re-dash to different stakeholders for decision making.

Describe what you intend to do and how you'll do it in one to two sentences (required 350 Characters)

Data on immunization coverage from private health facilities often does not feature in national statistics because of the paper based data collection tools often not tailored with the public health care system. Our aim is to overcome this by providing a mobile phone based data collection tool for improved accuracy and timeliness of data collection.

Explain the innovation (2,500 characters)

Data on immunization uptake and coverage at private health facilities is often not collected or if done this is not comprehensive and never included in the Uganda national expanded program of immunization (UNEPI) statistics. This is largely attributable to the current data collection matrix on immunization that is centered around public health care delivery system. Entities that are bound to benefit from this intervention include; Ministry of Health and district health teams as they will have real time data collection from private health facilities to track on immunization coverage. Private Health facilities as they will now be able to plan on vaccine stocking. The intervention will be piloted at 3 private health facilities within Kampala. A web based portal that allows integration with electronic medical records (EMRs) from private health facilities to facilitate private sector health reporting to public health data at national level. The application is linked to an immunization messaging platform via rapidpro to send reminders to beneficiaries on next immunization appointment. As well as to an analytics dashboard (Redash) for purposes of having user management access by different stakeholders. Main features for the TMCG-Immunization Web App will include:- User Management that is Data Clerk registration, login, logout, rights management and audit trails. Update of immunization beneficiaries in TMCG-Immunization Messaging Module (RapidPro) with fields from Hospital-EMR-Immunization Export. Generate Hospital-EMR Report required to make updates in UgandaEMR on follow up made. Generate analytics and data visualizations on specific performance indicators which will include number of registered data clerks and data clerks’ activity tracking. TMCG built a similar platform for the USAID funded Regional Health Integration to Enhance Health Services in South Western Uganda for improving retention and completion of Elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) facility cascades. A web based application was built off django and embedded in the Hospital electronic medical records system and the RapidPro messaging platform. This enabled contacts of scheduled mothers-baby-pair receive mobile SMS reminders on health facility appointment and at the same time data would be collected, analysed and get to be visualized by redash dashboard for stakeholders involvement.

Which part(s) of the world does this innovation target?

  • Eastern Africa

Geographic Focus

Region- East Africa Country- Uganda Community- Private health facilities within the Kampala Sub-burbs.

Stage of Innovation

  • Early Adaption

Who will work alongside your organization in the project idea? (1,000 characters)

1. Ministry of Health Uganda (MoH) - Engagement: To inform MoH explicitly what the project is about and the nature of support to expect from them. - Purpose: MoH provides a buy-in and go ahead of the project as custodian of health services in Uganda. 2. Uganda National Association of Private Hospitals - Engagement: To provide forum and entry point to the private health care facilities; To inform stakeholders about the addition of the web application database to Redash to provide analytics and data visualization of specific key performance indicators. - Purpose: To provide an avenue to reach the different private health facilities offering immunization; To provide approvals required for using an API to access data and make modifications in immunization RapidPro and approve the addition of the web application database in the Redash Analytics Module.

How is your idea unique? (750 characters)

Leveraging on digital solutions to address the data collection and ability for real time continuous monitoring through dashboards will enable stakeholders to have access to vaccine stock, immunization coverage. This web based immunization application is designed to be interoperable with the national electronic medical record system I(UgandaEMR) and can be interlinked with other electronic health systems like the messaging platform (RapidPro) for reminders to be sent out to immunization beneficiaries to support on completion of the scheduled.

What is the name of your organization

The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG); Uganda.

Explain your organization (250 characters)

The Medical Concierge Group is a digital health company that designs scalable models for unlimited access to holistic, affordable and quality health care products and services. The innovation provides an avenue to scale our products to national level

Type of Submitter

  • We are a For-Profit Startup or Startup Social Enterprise

Organizational Characteristics

  • Indigenous-led organization
  • Youth-led organization

Gender and Diversity (500 characters)

TMCG mainstreams gender through a number of ways including; non descrimination along gender lines in its human resources policy. In addition, TMCG rejects any kind of (sexual) intimidation, aggression and discrimination based upon race, age, philosophy of life, religion, political conviction, gender, sexual orientation, marital status and disability as forms of unacceptable behaviour.

Organization Location (less than 250 Characters)

We are headquartered in Kampala-Uganda with offices in Nairobi-Kenya and Lagos-Nigeria.

Size of organization (number of employees):

  • 21-100 people

Website URL

http://www.tmcg.co.ug/

Scale of organizational work

  • National (expansive reach within one country)

Tell us more about you

Louis Henry Kamulegeya is a public health specialist with a medical background having a long experience in managing public health projects in Uganda. Ivan Kagolo is a clinical medical officer with a background in maternal and child health projects. Sowed Mutumba is a software engineer with over 6 years experience in building customized mobile phone based software platforms for our different projects. Nicholas Niwamanya is a software engineer with experience in building data visualization and analytic dashboards in redash and other analytic software platforms. Mayanja Maureen is an accountant with experience in managing grant finances.

Applying to Gavi INFUSE

  • Gavi Website
  • Referred by a friend / colleague

Inspired by (1)

Scaling up of m-Health interventions for improving immunization coverage among children living in urban slums
Scaling up of m-Health interventions for improving immunization coverage among children living in urban slums

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Photo of Louis Kamulegeya
Team

Hello Manisha Laroia, thank you for the inquiries, responses below;
1. How your concept or idea is targeting highly mobile urban population
- Typical mobile urban population in Uganda are either in make shift slum in the suburbs or are refugees. Our concept is targeting private health facilities where these population often seek their health care.
2. and how the intervention might help accelerate immunization in those regions?
- The intervention will involve tracking scheduled immunization up-takers and send SMS reminders. In addition tracking immunization numbers to inform on vaccine stocking and out reach activities where immunization uptake is low.
3. Are there cities/towns you are starting with?
- Kampala, capital city of Uganda as it has a highly mobile urban population.
4. Do you already have a prototype for your solution?
- Yes we do.
5. Have you tested some aspects of it?
- yes we have tested it in other setting to do with eMTCT program.
6. Were there some learnings, if so?
- The learnings have been shared in project reports though may not be available online.

Regards.

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