ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH INFORMATION
AND LIBRARIES IN AFRICA, KENYA CHAPTER
P.O. Box 186-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
Leader in Promoting Access to Health Information
Outline
 Background Information
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KEN-AHILA Activities
Public Access to Health Information Concept
Olosho oibor Dispensary
ICT: E-Information Access
NLM – Seed funding
The Reading Tent
Challenges
Conclusion
Background Information
 The Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA)
has a registered local Chapter (KEN-AHILA) whose membership is
drawn from Libraries and information centers in health organizations
and institutions.
 The objectives of the Association are drawn from the main AHILA
objectives and include - Promoting closer association among health information
professionals in Kenya
- Promoting research and training in health information and
services
- Forging close collaboration with other health institutions,
organizations and individuals with similar objectives and
interests.
 Maintaining close collaboration with other organizations and
institutions both locally and internationally for the purposes of sharing
knowledge, resources and expertise.
Cont’d
 Local partners include, KEMRI,UON,FHOK,KMTC, KEMU,NNAK, JKUAT,
Aga Khan and KU among others. International partners include INASP,
NLM, WHO, Partnership in Health Information (PHI) among others
KEN-AHILA Activities:
These include among others –
 Disseminating health information materials to varied target groups
 Sharing health information resources among individual members
and their institutions
 Participating in outreach activities particularly in rural areas
 Organizing workshops and seminars for members and friends of
KEN-AHILA
 Supporting members to participate in local and international
forums on health information
Public Health Information Access Concept
 In November, 2009, KEN-AHILA organized an IFLA/FAIFE two days
TOT workshop on “Public Access to Health Information in Kenya”
 Main aim of the workshop- equip health information providers and
designers with skills to develop and repackage relevant health
information for relevant target groups and disseminate the same at the
quickest time possible.
 Swedish Development Agency (SIDA) funded the workshop while PHI
and IFLA/FAIFE representatives facilitated
 Participants were senior health librarians from relevant organizations
and also some technical advisors from International NGOs
 MOPHS directors - of NASCOP, and of Health Promotion presented
papers while the director for KNLS gave an overview of the her
anticipated activities.
 The concept was to be rolled out by the participants
Olosho oibor Dispensary
 Oloishobor dispensary is 20 kilometers from Ngong town- Kajiado
district
 The facility serves mainly the Maasai community in 12 villages with a
catchment area of about 4621 people.
 A Nursing Officer heads the facility with supervision being carried out
from Ngong district Hospital
 There are community health workers who visit households and give
periodic reports to the Nursing Officer who then forwards to the
district hospital
 In order for KEN-AHILA to roll out the concept -“public access to health
information”, Olosh oibor Dispensary was identified as an outreach
with two major activities to run concurrentlya) Establishment of a resource centre
b) Engaging the community in dialogue with drama,
poems, songs, clowns, entertainment and health talks
 A situation analysis to establish the information needs of the
community was done
Masaai Manyatta ( houses)
Olosho oibor Dispensary
ICT: E-Information Access
 KEN-AHILA embraced the use of ICT in the resource center in line with
Kenya Vision 2030.
 Electronic resources were/are made available for interested groups
including University students in clinical attachments, para-medics in
the dispensary, CHWs, teachers and students nearby and other
interested groups.
 In Kenya Vision 2030, innovation is the anchor to population
development. Innovation revolves around information hence the
government policy on “digital villages” establishment in Kenya
 Olosho oibor information resource center had therefore to keep pace
with the information explosion through the use of ICT
Agnes (HIRC in charge) accessing health information using the computer
Seed Funding- NLM
 The project got its seed funding from the National Library of Medicine,
USA.
 In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation
(MOPHS) a Model Information Resource Centre was established in
Olosho oibor.
 It was launched in July 2010 by Julia Royal of NLM in the presence of
senior government officials
 The Ministry of Health plans to replicate in other parts of the Country.
 KEN-AHILA will give expertise in health information packaging and
repackaging of relevant different formats for relevant target groups at
all literacy levels including persons with disabilities.
 KEN-AHILA will also oversee the establishment of proper manpower
to ensure quality health information provision.
Launching of the Information Resource Center by Julia Royal
Julia making a point to the Masai Morans
The Reading Tent: Packaging and Repackaging
 An action plan was developed indicating the activities to be
undertaken, resources required, those responsible, the timeline and
the anticipated outcomes
 During the 2nd phase, a reading tent will be put up at the center.
 Plans are in the process where project activities for different groups
will be held at the center.
 The information resource materials will be designed and developed in
various formats.
 Translations into Kimaasai(Maa) will be done so as to reach those
otherwise unable to understand English or Kiswahili.
 The health information resource materials will be tailored to enhance
the skills of the healthcare providers and Community health Workers.
The community (including Secondary and Primary schools) will also be
provided with relevant health information in relevant formats..
 The Reading Tents will be put up on the 13th May,2011. If successful
the activity will be done annually or twice a year.
Maasai community in a tent at Olosho oibor dispensary during the
Launch
Challenges
 Formal and informal training of a local personnel to manage the
IRC during this financial year remains a major concern to KENAHILA.
 Government intention of posting a trained person from outside
the area may not be received well by the community.
 Lack of capacity to provide and influence quality dissemination
of current and organised information resources to interested
clients remains a concern
 Sustainability of the project (though promised by the
government) is still tricky taking into account the project
ownership at the community level
Conclusion
 For Kenya to realize the MDGs, all the stakeholders will need to
combine efforts to ensure every Kenyan has access to quality health
information.
 Health information will empower the communities with knowledge
required in prevention of persistent common diseases in respective
areas hence improve on health.
 Diseases have been identified as one of the major cause of morbidity
and mortality eg cases of infant mortality –(MOH,2005)
 Well informed individuals can take control of their health hence
promote preventive healthcare
 Health information compliments good medicine hence the need to
strengthen information resource centers
 Quality and timely evidence based health information in the best
possible format should be accessible for best decision making at any
level hence the need to have an excellent information resource center
at Olosh oibor
Reference
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Vision 2030: First Medium Term Plan (2008 – 2012)
MDGs: Status Report for Kenya – 2007(2008)
Mdg.net discussion forum July 2010 on EB policy
WHO,2009. Health in the Millennium Development Goals
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THANK YOU
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