Handheld Computers for Health in Africa

Summary

Handheld computers transform the education of Ugandan medical students by providing medical references, survey tools and email capacity that improves their capacity to provide patient care.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In the world’s poorest countries, people die every day simply because health workers don’t have access to the current health and medical information they need to heal and save lives. This phenomenon, known as “information poverty,” is one of the greatest impediments to improving health in developing countries. SATELLIFE was founded to provide a solution to this problem, driven by the belief that no one should die when the knowledge exists to save them.

How will this project solve this problem?

Ugandan medical students will be trained to use handheld computers loaded with current treatment guidelines on AIDS and TB, a Ugandan essential drug list, a medical calculator, 5 Minute Clinical Consult (a text), and a survey tool.

Potential Long Term Impact

Students will be able to more accurately diagnose and treat their patients, and will be able to see more patients due to time saved from not having to travel to a medical library which may not even have the information they need.

Project Message

One of the best pieces of support technology ever. You are there on your own and there is no one to ask or textbook to consult. This helps you think through things and leads you to the drugs you need.
- A 2002 SATELLIFE project participant, Ugandan Physician

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources