The network aims to improve access to diagnostic services for vulnerable populations in cross border areas and enhance contribution of laboratories to disease surveillance using the Internet and mobile communications technology.
The World Bank approved $63.66 million in May last year to support the project which will benefit Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda by creating a regional network of 26 public health laboratories.
Dr Chris Masila of the World Bank said the country was chosen in recognition of its leadership in the area of ICT and determination to place ICT at the forefront of the country’s development efforts.
“We now look to Rwanda to provide similar leadership in the context of the project,” he said last week at the launch of the regional ICT workshop in Kigali.
The workshop reviewed modalities for collaboration and priority activities to be implemented under the project.
The project, which is being implemented in partnership with the ECSA, EAC, CDC, WHO, Microsoft, and the World Bank will also improve the quality of data, facilitate the sharing of information, and promote e-learning among countries in East Africa.
Dr Masila said laboratories have been one of the weakest links in Africa’s health systems, hindering each country’s ability to respond in a co-ordinated way to disease outbreaks.
“East Africa, with its rapidly integrating economic community and increased labour mobility, will need to step up its efforts to share information about disease outbreaks,” he said.
Dr Daniel Ngamije, the Global Fund and World Bank project management unit coordinator said countries will provide leadership at the regional level by leading working groups in key technical areas where each country has a comparative advantage.
Rwanda will take the lead in determining the applicability of the performance- based financing approach to public health laboratories, document and share lessons.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Health is planning to invest approximately $32million in e-health to support development of ICT mechanisms for its healthcare system including hospital management information systems, telemedicine and community based information systems across the country.
It has also been selected as a centre of excellence for MDR-TB for the Africa region by the Dutch TB Foundation (KNCV) and will also share lessons in this area.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Berna Namata
Quelle/Source: The East African, 02.05.2011
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