Category: Blog

How Digital Tools Connect Rural Populations with Modern Diagnostics and Treatment for Tuberculosis (TB)

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Judith Owoicho

Tuberculosis is a big burden in Africa. The region accounts for more than half of the 30 high-burden TB countries worldwide. In 2020, at least half a million lives were sadly lost to this curable and preventable disease in Africa.  

Efforts have been made in funding and creating more testing and diagnostic options, however, in many rural villages in Africa,  access to modern diagnostics facilities is a significant challenge that results in delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and poor health outcomes for tuberculosis. Lack of the necessary infrastructure and resources, such as electricity, water, and transportation, to set up and operate modern diagnostic facilities continue to impede the elimination of tuberculosis in the region. More effort is required to connect rural populations with central modern diagnostics facilities for TB/HIV diagnostics and care.

Digital technology has shown significant potential in advancing disease surveillance, monitoring, management, and care. It is being applied in innovative ways to help overcome barriers to prevention, detection, treatment, and management of infectious diseases including tuberculosis, to promote treatment adherence, support learning and knowledge dissemination progress in low and middle-income countries. One of such technologies is the Health Telematics Infrastructure (HTI).

Bridging the gap between rural population and urban diagnostic facilities

eHealth Africa worked with the Charité University of Medicine to design HTI, a digital solution to improve, analyze, and evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of TB and HIV. It was implemented in St. Francis Referral Hospital (SFRH), Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Ifakara, and Kilombero District, Central Tanzania. The system is a low-cost open-source software solution that captures data, tracks samples, and provides healthcare workers and patients with real-time feedback via SMS. With this digital platform, nurses can access a TB Diagnostics Dashboard on an android phone to view patients’ information and make decisions based on their test results. Patients or disease suspects are registered using an OpenDataKit form template, while sputum/blood samples are labeled with pre-printed QR codes to track shipment status from collection to the central diagnostic facility. Laboratory staff enter the test results into the HTI database, and rural healthcare staff/patients are informed about the availability of test results via SMS messages.  So, Instead of patients traveling to facilities, samples and information are transported and managed by the HTI system, which works under low-bandwidth and unstable internet conditions, anywhere with at least 2G coverage. 

Overall, the system significantly shortened the previously long turnaround time from first symptom until treatment initiation, it eliminated the paper based workflow and delayed information transmission replacing it with a digital workflow. It shortened the long distance to the molecular test facility by providing mechanisms for village level tests and it eliminated the high financial burden by moving samples and data  instead of patients.

Community engagement and involvement

Digital tools such as the HTI offer viable solutions to the challenges faced by rural communities, enabling them to access high-quality healthcare regardless of their location. To ensure the success of digital solutions especially in rural communities, it is important to involve local communities in the planning and implementation process. Community engagement can help to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by rural populations, as well as the most effective ways to address them. In rural Tanzania, there was awareness creation for the communities and in addition, capacity building for community health workers. This ensured that more cases of TB were identified and the rapid spread of the disease curtailed. By involving local communities and organizations in the process, we can ensure the success of these initiatives and work towards a future where all populations have access to modern diagnostics facilities for effective management and control of infectious diseases.

#DigitALL: 4 Compelling Reasons to Bridge the Digital Gender Gap in Health

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Judith Owoicho

The theme for international women’s day 2023 has a clear and loud message for all. It says DigitALL: it is a call for inclusion, a call for a world where innovation and technology can be used by more women and for the needs of more women and girls.

Technology has certainly improved the quality of lives and opened doors to opportunities for many around the world. In healthcare, the rapid transformation of healthcare delivery has offered a range of solutions to improve access to healthcare, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes, but not without ushering in a fresh stream of inequality, especially across gender lines. 

Despite the potential and adoption of digital health technologies, it is often limited by gender-based disparities in access, use, and benefits. The effects of this inequality are far-reaching, but primarily it has led to a limited understanding of the healthcare needs of women and other marginalized groups. Achieving gender equity in digital health practice has never been this urgent. Here are 4 reasons we must achieve gender equity in digital health.

1. Innovations tailored to the needs of women

It is not uncommon to see digital health tools and innovations developed with no single woman in the room. This can often leave gaps either out of ignorance or just simply failing to see the priority. Research reveals that most digital tools were typically designed for the universal user: a middle-class male. This shows itself in devices that do not fit well on female bodies or that targeted options like menstrual tracking options not initially included in the smartwatch design.

Women have unique health needs and often experience a range of health issues that are specific to their gender, including menstrual health, reproductive health, and menopause. With more women in these rooms, we can ensure that the needs of women are taken into consideration.

2. Economic growth and productivity

Building digital skills in women and girls can create a path to the labor market through internships, apprenticeships, and job placement programs. The eHA academy has added the all-female cohort to their software development and network engineering training academy so that more young women at the early stages of their career can adopt software development/ design skills. The academy sends them off to internships after the training, creating pathways to economic prosperity.  Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to and use of digital technologies — mobile phones, computers, and the internet — is central to their economic and social empowerment and inclusive economic recovery.

3. Reduced disparities in access to healthcare for women

Gender bias is a pervasive problem in healthcare, including in the digital health sector. Without addressing this bias, we risk further driving existing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Studies have shown that women use more online health and medical information than men. This could suggest If more women have digital skills, it could reduce disparities in access to healthcare for women. Acquiring digital skills will enable them to access information and resources related to healthcare through the internet and they can be better informed and able to take more control of their own health and make informed decisions.

4. Increasing workforce diversity

 Achieving gender equity in digital health practice can promote fairness and equal opportunities in the workplace. This will also help increase diversity in the workforce. Promoting the participation of women in digital health will introduce new perspectives and ideas to the field, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients. By improving health outcomes and increasing workforce diversity, we can create a more productive and inclusive healthcare sector.

We realize that many factors, including social norms, poverty, access to electricity, illiteracy, and even more, are at the intersection of this unevenness in digital skills distribution. But as we move farther into the digital future, we must all collaborate and start from where we are to leave no woman or girl behind. 

On this International Women’s Day, we call on collaboration from the government, private sector, and civil society organizations to DigitALL. Let’s move from imagining a gender-equal world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination to living in it.

Strengthening Blood Management Systems with Digital Tools

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Emmanuel Uko

Every month, eHealth Africa (eHA) convenes stakeholders and subject-matter experts on a fresh episode of the Insights Webinar for topical discussions, solutions and recommendations that improve public health and contribute to the attainment of SDG goal 3: good health and wellbeing for all. The aim is to share lessons learned across different areas of project implementation and to offer recommendations.

The 8th edition of the Insights webinar was focused on how digital tools can strengthen blood management systems. Alluding to the topic, one of the panelists, Dr. Mohammed Farouk (MD, MBA), Managing Director of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT), said “Incorporation of technology and data-driven solutions makes the blood management value chain more seamless. Recruitment of donors is done with online questionnaires, after which the donor institution determines eligibility of the donor, then invites them to the donation center.” This process saves time and resources as donors are only invited on appointment, based on schedule.

Still on eligibility, Michelle Vermeulen, Head of Marketing & Public Relations at Western Cape Blood Services in South Africa outlines the criteria: “In order to be an eligible donor, criteria differ from country to country. However, generally, one must be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50 kg, be healthy on the day of donation, without flu or symptoms of cold, and be leading a healthy sexual lifestyle.”

In addition, Emmanuel Nene Dei, Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Blood Service, Ghana, further stated that “An eligibility quiz for prospective donors helps to shorten the recruitment process. Those not eligible are, with their consent, linked up with other healthcare facilities for quality healthcare, as necessary.” Francis Ayo, Technical Project Manager in the Informatics Department at eHealth Africa, added that “Integration of data-driven technology creates visibility, accountability and transparency, leading to appropriate decisions about quantity and types of blood products required at specific health facilities, while third-party logistics systems carry out the distribution and ensure supplies where needed.”

The webinar had 160 online participants from Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sierra Leone; and eHA’s live LinkedIn audience (eHealth Africa), had 1,441 viewers at the time of the webinar. eHA’s Strategic Engagement Lead / Senior Manager, in Berlin, Germany, Johanna Roegele, who has worked on the management of the blood supply chain observed that eHA and partners have modelled a system to ensure continual availability of blood products. She recommended that such models be replicated especially in other African countries.

From their vast experience, the panelists shared other lessons for effective blood supply chain management: donors prefer to be contacted with personalized messages (SMS, Whatsapp and emails) rather than general messages sent to everyone. Personalized messages enhance the likelihood of recurrent donations, especially for first-time donors. More so, social media and traditional media help create visibility for institutions and to attract donors. Digital interoperability between digital blood management information systems and testing machines reduces human error, speeds up testing time, increases accuracy, eliminates waste and averts silo functioning. In addition, drone-based delivery to hard-to-reach areas, saves more lives especially in emergencies.

Human-centered project design approach should be applied, taking into consideration inputs and needs of stakeholders and potential beneficiaries. In the data management process, privacy of clients is paramount while keeping appropriate databases updated for tracking and monitoring of trends in blood services.

eHA’s monthly Insights webinar is an opportunity to learn more about how experts are resolving public health issues with the use of digital technology and data-driven solutions, sharing both the solutions and the lessons in creating them for replication.

Help Desk – Optimizing Real-time Response Structure for Digital tools

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Emmanuel Uko

In 2022, eHealth Africa conducted a gap analysis to identify support areas for the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) system IT infrastructure. The analysis  revealed the weaknesses and strengths of the current issue resolution approaches and the requirements for improving the current system. The help desk operations was identified  to ensure the smooth utilization of the EMID system and increased vaccination coverage data in Nigeria.

Physical and infrastructural constraints were identified: the help desk occupied an open space that was easily accessible, the server room was unrestricted and thus used for other purposes, too. Basic work tools for call agents, like  headsets, and  laptops were either not available or obsolete.

Helpdesk setup at NHPCDA, before and after the optimization.
Photo Credit: eHA

Similarly, operational challenges also existed: downtimes, issues and resolutions were communicated to the leads only through Whatsapp. In addition, a web-based system where users could access resources and information to resolve issues was lacking. More so, information history showing trend of cases and projections was non-existent. There was no existing standard operating procedure for the help desk to guide the team on how to handle issues, especially during off-peak hours. Finally, the support process flow was not fully defined/documented. Thus, the optimization of the help desk support was needed.

“I learnt how to use the native EMID application, as it is more user-friendly than the old one. Specifically, the ability to contact help desk and lodge complaints almost in realtime, whenever issues need to be resolved, is a real advantage that will speed up our work.”
– Ojetade Victoria Oyebimpe, EMID Focal Person, Ede South LGA, Osun State.

eHealth Africa (eHA) software development and help desk teams worked to develop a real-time response structure that caters to users’ needs within the optimized EMID application. As is the universal practice, the structure provides a centralized help to users of the application. The improved EMID help desk at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) ensures availability of personnel at every level of troubleshooting, to resolve issues down to zero for both the NPHCDA staff and end users of the EMID app.

Solomon Emmanuel, eHA’s Manager, Helpdesk, anchors training for NPHCDA helpdesk agents.
Photo Credit: eHA

With support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), eHealth Africa procured the required IT equipment and facilities for renewable energy to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the IT server rooms, secured furniture and fittings; planned and implemented the setup in collaboration with the NPHCDA. In addition, eHA organized training sessions for the ICT unit at the agency on standard help desk processes and procedures based on the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) methodology. They defined, developed and documented standard operating procedures for help desk, operational-level and service-level agreements to guide process flow, from issues escalated by recorders to their resolution stage.

“The native EMID app now helps us determine who, how and where to send complaints to, unlike the old one.”
– Akinyemi Yemi, EMID Focal Person

Jamil Galadanchi, eHA’S Senior Manager, Software Engineering, during a training for NPHCDA, on use of the EMID software.
Photo Credit: eHA

eHA also provided suitable work areas to prevent noise penetration and work tools such as desktops and laptops, display screens with a display/monitor to enable the helpdesk operator to manage multiple screens. This allows for a quick review of the several platforms that may be needed to resolve an issue, or for real time monitoring of the key equipment needed to ensure the EMID system works adequately with limited downtime. eHA also set up the Zendesk application to issue ticket IDs and track issue resolution, an access control system for the help desk main entrance, IT office door leading to the server room, and the server room itself to prevent unnecessary access. Lastly, a solar energy system was also set up at the NPHCDA to power the facilities and ensure a 24-hour electricity supply.

“In addition to its capacity to validate clients’ records in real time, it is now easy to ask questions and access the help desk for support.”
– Egunsola Ayobami Abiodun, EMID Focal Person, Isale-Agbara PHC, Osogbo, Osun State

As a result of the optimization, the help desk can respond to different levels of issues raised. The diagrams below portray mapped help desk support flows according to Tiers 1, 2 and 3 support required. They depict the help desk process flow, from the EMID users, the channels for registering queries, the different levels of helpdesk support system, and the process of resolving issues, the operational phases of response to queries from the end users and the processes involved in using the Interactive Voice Response flow in reporting and resolving EMID issues.

Helpdesk support for pilot training and user assessment test
Image: eHA
Helpdesk support for pilot training and user assessment test
Image: eHA

In addition, below is the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) support flow:

Interactive voice response support flow
Image: eHA

The process of developing the EMID application got all stakeholders working together, each one fulfilling relevant roles for the optimization of the application and realization of the help desk setup. eHA and partners learned important lessons in the course of executing the project. Buy-in and collaboration by relevant stakeholders from the beginning of the project proved necessary for its successful implementation. Setting out deliberate strategies that enable all partners to be carried along especially during important planning and decision making processes, budgeting and procurement, contributed to attaining success. More so, aligning the scope of work with appropriate timelines helped partners to manage the project for successful delivery.

“The new desktop for helpdesk now helps in resolving issues quicker, the monitors and screens help to give a clearer view of the issues presented and there is now a better working environment that enables us to resolve issues more promptly.”
– Nabil Nuhu Bamalli, System Administrator at NPHCDA.

Working as a Recorder is Easier with the Optimized EMID Application

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Farid Suleiman

The Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) is Nigeria’s homegrown digital platform for the collection, storing, and analysis of covid-19 immunization data. It is domiciled at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The first version of the app was rolled out by the Nigerian Minister of Health in 2021, as a platform to ensure a smooth COVID-19 vaccination process across the country.

With the rise in the number of unvaccinated adults and unimmunized children in Nigeria, NPHCDA saw the need to scale up the EMID application beyond its regular use for COVID-19 vaccination data to capture and store information on other immunization activities. However, the capacity of the application was below its intended use, with multiple functionality errors, hence the need for an optimized version of the app.

eHealth Africa (eHA), partnered with NPHCDA, to optimize the app for newly defined and broadened functions. They further piloted its use in selected states towards its deployment for use. 
The mobile application provides a gateway for inputting immunization data. This enables the end-user-recorders to work hand in hand with vaccinators across the country to upload data in real-time to the platform. This data enables stakeholders to analyze and monitor the progress of vaccination teams on the field, and where necessary, come up with better strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the immunization program.

Abdullahi Muhammad, like other recorders, was quick to spot the changes the new app had come with. He observed: “a lot of features have been simplified on the new EMID application. The data input process and its submission to the server have all been simplified, this will make the work easier.”

Globally, digital tools such as EMID help keep track of information about people vaccinated, types of vaccines they received, doses, location, and other relevant data key to the success of vaccination campaigns. As of January 2023, three years after the commencement of covid-19 vaccination, over 60 million eligible Nigerians have received the vaccine. It is safe to say that Nigeria’s immunization strategy, of which EMID is a part, has been successful. The optimization of the EMID app adds value to the overall success, especially on the EMID application’s ease of use, optimized process flow, help desk setup, and renewable power supply.

The optimized EMID application has integrated a client validation tool used to take pictures of the client to validate their presence at the vaccination site. Other validation features such as the geofencing feature ensure that data is only collected by fixed teams when they are within the geographical location assigned for their data entry to be registered on the app, eliminating the possibility of procuring services and the new liveness detection feature which ensures that beyond the still photos of clients, facial feature movements such as blinking are required for verification of client vaccination. This eliminates the possibility of utilizing pictures/static images for data entry. The national team can now have a higher level of confidence in the vaccination data generated using the tool.

The new application also allows recorders to capture data in environments where network connectivity is at its lowest. The specific additional feature is a draft page that prevents the loss of incomplete data. Recorders no longer need to resort to manual synchronization of data when there is internet connectivity as the new application allows automatic data synchronization once internet connectivity is restored. The sort and filter functionality has also been included to allow for ease in identifying previous records via the new native EMID mobile application. Rilwanu Dahiru, another EMID Recorder, describes the use of QR codes for client search as making their work even easier. He says, “if I have the QR code of a client, I search directly for the record without inputting the vaccination number or name.”

Overall, the level of flexibility on the optimized app now allows vaccinators to record and validate client details themselves without having a different validator assigned to them while on duty.

The troubleshooting feature-the FAQs and Help center provides easy access to support questions or challenges that arise while using the application. The help center also has links to the various channels that allow for direct communication with the EMID helpdesk support office.

In Nigeria, eHealth Africa Optimizes Systems for Seamless Vaccination Data Collection and Retrieval

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Emmanuel Uko

Building and optimizing software applications to improve public health outcomes is at the core of  eHealth Africa’s work. With the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) application, the organization went beyond optimizing the app to redesigning a new process flow for vaccination data capture. The redesign of an optimized process flow was necessary as research shows that inadequate health data is a challenge in Nigeria due to unintentional duplication, lack of synchronization and dearth of data storage systems.

The quality of data collection tools and the uncoordinated nature of the collection process compounded the data challenges, thus the need for a redesigned data collection process flow. eHA’s Technical Project Manager, Software Engineering, Dayo Akinleye said, “The redesigned process flow was necessary because the new process eliminates the possibility of duplicate records for offline users; utilizes the current quick response (QR) code for easy identification and seamless operation; and eliminates redundant information generated on the Public Registration portal (PubReg). The old process flow used the KoboCollect platform, so it did not have these capabilities. It was also unable to synchronize with the District Health Information Software (DHIS2).”

Former process flow with the old EMID application
Image: eHA
New process flow with the native (optimized) EMID application
Image: eHA

Both process flows allow users to register via the PubReg portal and receive registration ID before visiting the vaccination center to receive the vaccine. At the vaccination site, both processes allow for manual registration of clients into the EMID physical register, and receive a vaccination card with QR code.

eHA’s EMID Project Manager, Stephanie Okpere (right), during a Strategy Group meeting at NPHCDA Headquarters, Abuja.
Photo Credit: eHA

Tope Falodun,  eHA’s Associate Project Manager on the EMID project, affirmed that “the new process departs from the old as it allows for instant validation of clients once registered. Upon successful validation, the optimized EMID system generates a vaccination ID for clients that register at the physical site. For those who register via PubReg, their registration ID is replaced with the vaccination ID, eliminating duplicates, unlike the old system. The new vaccination ID is generated from the QR code for both online and offline clients to avoid duplicate registration. If the registration on the optimized (native) app is unsuccessful, the error message redirects the user to the specific item that needs to be updated or corrected. After correcting the error message the recorder saves the information to complete the registration and validation process.”

EMID Recorder for Isale-Agbara PHC, Egunsola Ayobami (middle), at the pre-deployment training of the native (optimized) EMID application in Osogbo, Osun State
Photo Credit: eHA

End users have found the new process flow more responsive than the old one, and better fit for purpose. As the EMID Recorder at Isale-Agbara Primary Healthcare Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, Egunsola Ayobami, confirmed, “one of the important variations from the old system is the ability to validate a client instantly, making the work easier and faster. It is also easier to use. When in doubt, I now know how to contact helpdesk, and their responses are instant,” he concluded.

Deployment of the native EMID application across Nigeria, with its optimized process flow, guarantees seamless data capture, storage and real-time retrieval. 

eHA’s areas of  expertise are data management, project logistics, infrastructure and ICT services, working in the following focus areas: health delivery, public health emergency management, disease surveillance, laboratory and diagnostics, and nutrition and food security.

Optimizing the National Electronic Management of Immunization (EMID) Data Tool for Improved Efficiency

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Emmanuel Uko

The Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) system was designed to facilitate the overall management of immunization data and other programs at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) including vaccination scheduling, real-time entry of clients’ data, and collation, analysis, and validation of such data.

The health sector depends heavily on data for planning. To ascertain how well a country’s immunization plans and implementation are going, adequate information is necessary. The World Health Organization states that immunization data helps to monitor improvements in vaccination trends and identify gaps for its surveillance processes. More so, there is a consensus among vaccination stakeholders that real-time data reporting has allowed decision-makers to follow-up on the unvaccinated and forecast needs for supplies.

Since March 2022, eHealth Africa (eHA), has supported the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria to optimize the functionality of the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) System. This optimization is funded by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). They identified the need to fill up the vaccination data gap, after seeing  lapses in the primary data capture tool – the EMID application. Users of the unoptimized app expected more than it was offering. Dr Oyetunde Olasunboye, the Osun State EMID Focal Person said, “the functionality of the system declined noticeably and would sometimes become difficult to input client’s information, search for, or confirm clients’ details. More so, it became increasingly difficult to scan a client’s quick response (QR) code, although this was mostly dependent on the device at the user’s disposal.” These errors adversely affected the application’s functionality.

These inadequacies gave rise to the need for optimization of the EMID application to enable it function at its best for end users at health facilities. “We developed a roadmap for an optimized application that would be scalable country-wide. We built and deployed the optimized application, we conducted training and capacity-building activities for NPHCDA EMID team at national and state levels, and recorders at the PHCs, in preparation to hand over the optimized system to the agency”. Said Stephanie Okpere, eHA’s EMID Project Manager.

Similarly, Kasim Sani, a Network support staff at NPHCDA ICT Unit, said this about the optimized helpdesk: “The new setup has made our work more responsive to clients’ needs. We are able to detect and resolve issues more promptly and applications can now be deployed on the server seamlessly.”

In preparation for the deployment of the optimized app, eHA trained 351 users including recorders, EMID focal persons at State and Local Government levels, and piloted its use across selected states within the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. From each of the states, eHA selected one rural Local Govermment Area (LGA), one urban LGA and one LGA with poor internet connectivity.

In collaboration with the ICT Unit at NPHCDA, eHA also trained users on help desk use and structure for issue resolution, support process flow, roles and responsibilities of the support tiers, and the use of support channels like email, Whatsapp and phone lines.  Specifically, the training focused on how to download and log into the application, how to conduct online and offline mode check, searching, filtering and updating of records, manual syncing, import and export of records. Participants were also shown how to navigate to the help section and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the native application. The optimized application ensures seamless management of vaccination data at national and subnational levels.

Health Checks; No More Sick Projects

Posted on by Moshood Isah

By Juliana Jacob

Case Study

Mark was proud to be doing well on his project, so it surprised him when a meeting with stakeholders revealed that his team did not meet quality and project standards. Although Mark and his team were a brilliant team, they were not implementing the project as expected. 

Project Manager,  Mark is working on a three-year project in Jigawa State. Through the completion of the various activities highlighted at the beginning of this project, Mark and his team thought the project was on track. They had organized capacity-building workshops for immunization officers in select health facilities, but it was insufficient.

Mark organized a pause and reflect session with his team to analyze the project implementation phases and activities they had conducted. This was to enable them to identify loopholes. It was during the session that they concluded that they should have conducted regular health checks as a part of the project improvement plan. 

After working closely with the Project Quality Assurance (PQA) specialist, they created a robust improvement plan which included quarterly health checks as a key component. The project met quality standards in a short period after they began the implementation of the quality plan.

Just like Mark resolved with his team, Project teams and Project Managers at eHealth Africa employ the health check tool to checkmate projects’ health.

What is a project health check?

A project health check is a review of all projects to validate that projects are delivering on defined scope, processes, and agreed objectives. A project health check helps you assess the current state of any project and identify problems that could cause issues during the entire endeavor if left unattended. As a project manager, knowing the health of your team is crucial. Project Health Checks are a valuable means of assessing the likelihood of success  (or the risk of failure) of in-progress projects. They can provide a safety net and early warning system for senior management and for individual project managers by revealing environmental, structural, or intrinsic flaws in projects that, for those absorbed in managing them, are often difficult to recognize.

Our previous health check tool wasn’t able to give us all the information \when it was time to access a project as there weren’t many insight categories, with projects scoring 100% but defaulting on key quality areas. So we upgraded to a more improved version of the health check tool that could assess projects based on eight core project parameters with sub-parameters including external parameters and stakeholders’ feedback.

Introducing Health Check V2

This newly introduced eHealth Africa’s health check self-assessment tool caters to the need for a project improvement plan, providing the next steps to improve project quality. Rather than a situation where the Project Support team receives documents from project managers and conducts the assessment, this tool allows project managers and project teams to self-assess their projects.

Project Managers at eHA have widely welcomed the tool because of its improved categories and wider reach.

Mohammed Bello, a Project Manager, explained that he is excited because the tool will improve his work. “I am very excited to have this new tool to help improve my work.” He added that the tool is an upgrade from the previous one, “The new self-assessment tool is an improvement, and I particularly like it because it encompasses everything a project needs to do well.”

For Tahir Buhari, another Project Manager with eHealth Africa, the scoring metrics are what appeal to him. “It is more practical than the previous tool we used. The scoring metrics are a lot clearer and easier to self-assess.”

eHealth Africa’s goal of ensuring that all projects implemented meet standards resulted in an improved version of the Health Check assessment tool. Project Managers use this tool to identify when a project needs improvement and make changes when necessary. We have made this tool as simple as possible to use, while still maintaining quality. At eHealth Africa, we constantly design new tools that will improve our processes. 

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