From Apps to Accountability: Information for better health services
Durban University of Technology
“Sub-Saharan Africa has the most serious HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world. In 2012, 25 million people were living with HIV, nearly 70% of the global total” — Avert.org
1.6 million
People live with HIV or AIDS in KwaZulu Natal Province
#1
KwaZulu Natal Province's ranking in the list of South Africa's most AIDS-affected provinces
September 2015 End date
September 2016
Issue
In KwaZulu Natal Province, more than 1.6 million people live with HIV or AIDS. It is the worst affected province in South Africa.
The government’s ‘War Rooms’ – set to support the provision of essential health services and information for people living with the disease - operate in local communities, and representatives from government agencies meet with citizens and stakeholders to discuss how services can be improved.
But, despite the government and community commitment to the War Room structure, basic systems and processes are not yet in place. Most worryingly, information from the community, discussed at War Rooms often does not make it to the government officials who decide what services to fund, and who has the greatest need.
“The War Rooms struggle to deliver on their mandate due to poorly functioning monitoring and data flow systems.” - Professor Nceba Gqaleni
Project
A team from the Durban University of Technology are working on a project that systematically links information from the local HIV/AIDS War Rooms with planning and budget management systems.
Through an integrated within the government reporting system, citizens' reports are brought into the government's own monitoring processes to ensure those in charge of delivering health services have direct access to information about how ordinary people experience them.
The system helps to ensure structures are well coordinated and more able to accurately reflect the needs and concerns of citizens. It also ensures that government staff working on HIV/AIDS-related services are more accountable for delivery of ambitious targets for improvement.
“Success for this project would be to eliminate a lack of supplies to antiretroviral treatment and the long waiting time between being diagnosed and initiation of treatment" - Project Manager, Welcome Mbokazi
Partner
This project is a joint initiative of the following institutions Durban University of Technology, eThekwini Municipality, eThekwini District AIDS Council, KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier and Siyaleader.