Electronic Health Materials for various target groups

In order to address the challenge of health workers gaining access to reliable up-todate health information, a website has been developed known as the Muhimbili Health Exchange Forum (MuHEF) www.muhef.or.tz. An offline CD ROM is also produced at least quarterly to improvise for those with no internet access and distributed to all districts across the country.

Additionally, three online courses for health staff from Engenderhealth on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Infections have been translated into Kiswahili and are available for downloading from the MuHEF website. The English original versions can be found at: www.engenderhealth.org/res/onc/index.html

For young people a website full of reproductive health and lifestyle issues has been prepared together with Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW) and Health Information Project (Femina/Si Mchezo Magazines). The website is accessible at www.chezasalama.com and also available on a CD-ROM for those without internet access.For more information read Information materials for young people.

For parents, in particular women, a CD-Rom is available with illustrated health information in Kiswahili. Topics covered include: Parents as role models, Reproductive and Sexual health, HIV/AIDS, Rights of children, Rights to quality health care, the advantages of health insurance and the community health fund etc. Read more in Health Financing Component.

Support of Ongoing Training ICT for Health

Provision of timely, reliable and relevant health information remains a challenge. TGPSH supports ongoing short Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training with focus on health information, carries out training with different partners/stakeholders by developing skills in ICT management and use.

Training on internet use for health resources

In June 2006, TGPSH conducted two 3-day training workshops during which participants were taught how to navigate the internet skilfully, to find and use reliable health information sources, to use search engines and databases for specific topics. A variety of questions on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health were used as examples. This training targeted health personnel and trainers countrywide, and involved participants from the Muhimbili College of Health Sciences (MUCHS), Zonal Training Centres, Regional Health Management Teams (RHMTs), public hospitals and from Non -governmental organisations as well as TGPSH staff.

All participants felt that the training was very useful and suggested the inclusion of this kind of training into the training modules for Council Health Management Teams (CHMTs), Health workers, and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) curriculum.

The following useful handouts can be downloaded:

A mini online survey was conducted by TGPSH - GTZ during the period 9th - 30th October 2008 (3 weeks), to determine whether the course met its objectives and whether the format and organisation of the course could serve as a model for future training in this area. A survey summary is available for download.