Post on 22-Sep-2020
mHero: Using
mHealth to
Communicate
Effectively During
Crises and Beyond
Emily Nicholson
Senior Program Officer
IntraHealth International
Leah McManus
Program Officer
IntraHealth International
Session Overview
• Part I: Introducing mHero and Steps for
Rolling Out a National Communications
System
• Part II: mHero: Operations, Management
and Monitoring
• Part III: Data for Decision Making
1989-2003
Fourteen year
Civil War 2004-2013
Rebuilding
and growth
December 2013
EVD outbreak
begins in Guinea
and spreads to
Liberia and Sierra
Leone
December 2014
mHero health
worker
communication
platform piloted September 2015
Liberia
declared
Ebola-free
STRATEGIC PLANNINGPart I: Introducing mHero and Steps
for Rolling Out a National
Communications System
What is mHealth?
What Is mHero?
What is your stock
level of PPE?
2 PPE available
What kind of disease agent causes Ebola?
1)Bacteria 2)Virus 3)Toxin
4)Parasite
2) Virus
Could you confirm that
you are an RN?
Yes, I am an RN
PPE
DHIS2
iHRIS
Inte
rop
erab
ility
Lay
er
RapidProHW Registry
mHero
Facility Data
HW Data
Data flows from the health workers through RapidPro into iHRIS and DHIS2
Data flows from iHRIS and DHIS2 to RapidPro to enable messages to be sent
Facility Information
HW InformationWorkflow initiator
• Message Development
• Message Sender• Message Receiver
mHero Technology
1. Determine workflow for
use case
2. Develop and test use
case (RapidPro)
3. Determine which health
workers to contact (iHRIS)
4. Send message to a set of health
workers
5. Receive health workers’
response via SMS
6. After mHero completes workflow,
document responses
7. Monitor responses and
act accordingly
8. Implement use case with another set of health workers
or close workflow
Workflow Development Process
The mHero Process
1• Starting Up
2• Establishing the Structure and Design of mHero
3• Adapting Component Technologies
4
• Developing the Institutional Implementation Capacity of the MOH
5• Identifying Use Cases
6• Developing, sending, and monitoring messages
7• Reflecting and Improving
Deeper Dive: Stakeholder Engagement
• Who will oversee mHero?
• Who are our stakeholders?
• How will we engage with them?
• How often?
1. MOHSW Organogram
2. Partner Mapping Table
Deeper Dive: Workplanning
• How will we plan our activities?
• What will we use to monitor our work?
1. Quarterly Workplan
2. Use Case Tracker
Deeper Dive: Governance
• How will the system operate?
• What agreements need to be in place
with stakeholders?
• What are the roles needed for
sustained implementation and who will
fill them?
1. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
2. Data Sharing Agreements
3. Terms of Reference
WorkplanningPart II. mHero: Operations,
Management and
Monitoring
Resources Needed
• Health worker information and database
• Workflow development platform
• Computers, servers, and other accessories
• Internet access
• Cellphones and cellphone coverage
• Contracts with mobile network operators for messaging services
• Staffing• Coordinator
• Team to mange and monitor mHero
• mHero Steering Committee (Senior Leadership)
mHero Use Cases… Quick Examples
Stock
Annual Messages
Routine data to compliment HMIS Reminder on key strategic health
servicesReminders on reporting
Warning system
Health system/infrastructure assessments
Validate HRIS data
Feedback loop HRM training and tips
License renewal and reminders
Dissemination of information
Routine Non Routine One Way Two Way Sent by MOH Sent by HW
Use Cases from Liberia Name of
Use Case
Description # Recipient
Type
Location End User of
Data
Status Description
EPI Accountability Stock receipt and use
information, include provision
of Vaccines
116 EPI
Officers
National EPI Unit Monthly assessment. Conducted
monthly since December 2015.
Nutrition
Supplies
Assessment on
anthropometric tools in
health facilities
13 Nutrition
Officers
National Nutrition
Unit
Monthly assessment. Conducted
monthly since May 2015.
Family
Planning
Assessment on
Training, Commodities and
Service Provision
254 Reproductive
Health
Supervisors,
County Health
Team, Officers in
Charge
National Family
Health
Unit
Monthly assessment. Conducted
monthly since November 2015.
Availability
Chlorohexidine
Oxytocin
Stock Levels 15 Officers in Charge National Family
Health
Unit
Complete. One time assessment.
Use Cases from Liberia Name of
Use Case
Description # Recipient
Type
Location End User of Data Status Description
Prison
EVD/Stock Assessment
Assessment of various stock levels
for EVD
IPC supplies and other critical
commodities.
17 Officers in charge National County
Health Services,
Prison Health
Complete. One time assessment.
TB/HIV
Report
Reminder
Reminder to
TB/HIV Officers on stock availability
and to send
consumption report.
72 TB/HIV
Officers
National TB/HIV
Unit
Complete. Currently
only sent one time due to content
of reminder.
Warehouse
Focal Persons
Identification
Identification of focal persons for
Warehouse management in each
County Health Team
16 Officers in charge National Warehouse
Management Unit
Complete. One time assessment.
Health Worker
Validation
To validate the personnel data
information in iHRIS
1190 Health workers Margibi, Cape
Mont, Bomi,
Lofa
HR Sent to 4 Counties.
Team Work Activity
• Break up into groups of three
• Review Data Sets
• Follow SOP and Complete Use Case
Request Form
• Present your Use Case
• What are the priorities within your Unit, project, intervention or teams?
• What do you do? How do you interact with others?
• What types of communication and information do you need?
• What are your challenges to getting this?
• What reports do you have to write?
• Who do you communicate with?
• What do you communicate?
• What are your challenges and information needs?
Identifying Communication Needs
Challenges =
Use Cases
Stakeholder Engagement
Part III: Data for Decision Making
MEASURE Evaluation’s conceptual framework – the role of
data use activities in health systems strengthening
MEASURE Evaluation’s logic model for strengthening
the use of health information in decision making
Thank You