Health Network - Tanzania

The Tanzanian ICT for Health Network (known in Tanzania as 'Afya Mtandao') unites Tanzanian health workers and promotes the use of ICT in the health sector. It provides a knowledge-sharing platform for health workers, raises awareness of ICT in the health sector and provides ICT support services for health institutions.

In view of the present dispersed ICT initiatives in the health sector, a platform to share experiences and to pool ‘demand’ will generate considerable added value and provide cost effective solutions.

AfyaMtandao will develop based on the needs articulated by its members. It will be complementary to existing initiatives and developments in the market sector.

The implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the health sector requires knowledge, best practices and appropriate procedures to spread through the sector and to professionalize health management. AfyaMtandao (HealthNet in Swahili) will contribute to this. In view of the present dispersed ICT initiatives in the health sector, a platform to share experiences and to pool ‘demand’ will generate considerable added value and provide cost effective solutions.

The network is up and running, with a website that shows stories about ICT for health in Tanzania and provides information about all of the institutions joined in the initiative. Also regular member meetings are taking place. In early 2011 the netwok will be evaluating its activities so far and together with its members see how it can continue to be a stong advocate for ICT in the health sector, for instance by increasing its lobbying activities.

• To create an organisational nucleus around which members can exchange knowledge, share experiences and innovate ICT in the field of health care delivery in Tanzania.
• To assure timely and effective technical ICT support to its members through local training of staff of members and ICT support service providers and stimulate the development of a pool of consultants, establishment of a track record of ICT support service providers. Additional options are: distance trouble-shooting, sub contracting of local technical advisors if desired by the members.
• To reduce costs of bandwidth by at least 30% compared to the current market tariffs and to provide specialized and secured connectivity solutions to its members (e.g. dedicated bandwidth for telemedicine or e-learning solutions) at relatively low costs. This will be realised through being a platform to pool, negotiate and support cost effective and reliable connectivity solutions for its members.

The impact of this project has not been measured and evaluated yet.

Read more about IICD's Tanzania Country Programme.

Project partner is the Christian Social Service Commission (CSSC) an organisation that is active in the education and health sector. In the health sector CSSC advocates on policy issues pertaining to health services in the country and it also facilitates the policy formulation through research.