Strengthening community health management systems using real-time reporting tools in Rwanda: Improving malaria eradiation though RapidPro

Abstract

Efficient communication and collaboration are the major stages in tackling infections particularly those which need a fast response based on real-time data. The fast growing of mobile phone usage has played a key role in managing different diseases by providing realtime data and their availability on time to the end users. Different solutions have been adopted to minimize the effects caused by diseases and gain a considerable control of them through the usage of different mobile phone applications and the instant messaging applications. Malaria is one of those diseases that need a joint and effective communication of all government and private entities that involves in providing healthcare services and decisions that are linked to healthcare sector and diseases management. Despite the measure efforts in reducing new malaria cases, malaria remains a challenge in the sub-Saharan countries with a higher percentage of morbidity and mortality. Many efforts and studies have been carried out on malaria eradication to evaluate the improvement brought by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in maximizing the surveillance and monitoring of its prevalence, however, few studies have been focused on the patient centric approach in providing the required information in real time. Real time reporting and monitoring of malaria cases is a crucial domain that need to be addressed in depth with time, location and completeness. This research thesis will firstly evaluate the existing malaria surveillance system and its model in the reduction of malaria prevalence using RapidSMS as the first tool applied on malaria control and elimination in Rwanda. Secondly RapidPro will be used to improve the existing malaria surveillance system model in designing new malaria surveillance system model with patient centric approach. Finally, it will compare the existing malaria surveillance system model and the new designed surveillance system model to enhance the existing data flow model in fighting against malaria in Rwanda.