Women and ICTs Project:
Providing information electronically on reproductive health
The Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD) promotes and protects
the health of women, young people and children. The online project - Providing information electronically on reproductive health - is aimed at disseminating information to help Internet-connected women's NGOs frame their advocacy programmes on reproductive health issues.
Four association members who received training in Internet Skills are
designated information officers charged with surfing the Internet. Each
officer is assigned topics to research including reproductive health and
civil and human rights. They subscribe to electronic journals, identify
useful web sites and repackage the information for a health news update
produced every two months. A short questionnaire is distributed at the
same time for recipients to evaluate and improve the usefulness of the update.
The project promotes networking with other NGOs and trains other women to
use the Internet. It is a cost effective way of sharing information and
shows that even with meagre resources, something useful can be done.
Results
The online project is providing information that the users are asking for. Thus filling
in an information gap. This is shown further by the feedback we get online, questions asked, concerns etc. The users are also turning up for preventive measures at the clinic, e.g. pap smears, in larger numbers than before. This is measured by the records at the clinic and at exit interviews of clients at the clinic. This show increased level of knowledge in the clients.
Objectives and innovation
- Disseminate information on reproductive issues to women NGOs connected electronically.
- To promote networking with other NGOs electronically.
- To train other women medical doctors on the use of e-mail and Internet.
Partners
- Uganda Medical Association
- World Health Organisation
- Ministry Of Health - Reproductive Health Section
Transferability
The project has been adapted by other groups. The different NGOs download the information,and print it out as hard copies. These hard copies are circulated round to their staff members and to the respective communities, particularly the rural women's groups.
Lessons learned
- It is a cost effective way of sharing information because you save on the cost of paper, envelopes, tranport to the post office, and importantly on time.
- It is very important to have continuous health education as new things crop
now and again.
- Even with meagre resources, something useful can be done.
For further information:
- Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD), contact auwmd@uol.co.ug
- Stockholm Challenge website. Category: 2001 Health and Quality of life
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