3 - Using ICTs to Enhance Healthcare in Zambia
Corresponding Author(s) : Kutoma Jacqueline Wakunuma
Africa Media Review,
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2008): Africa Media Review, Volume 16, n° 2 , 2008
Abstract
This paper examines an electronic record system in Zambia, where Information
and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been adopted and are being used
innovatively in one area of the health sector – perinatal care. The paper explores
how the system known as the Zambia Electronic Perinatal Record System
(ZEPRS) is being used in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. Having carried out
fieldwork in 2005 where interviews were conducted and observations made in
relation to the system, the paper makes the case that such use of ICTs is
contributing to human development and subsequently helping to meet some of
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper therefore makes the
case that ZEPRS, one of a first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, is a good
example of a programme that is being used to meet United Nations (UN) MDGs,
of which enhancement of health is one of them.
Keywords
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- African Information Society Initiative (AISI), 2003, African Information Society Initiative (AISI): An Action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure, accessible at: http://www.uneca.org/aisi/aisi.htm#resolution.
- Baliamoune-Lutz, M., 2005, ‘Globalisation, Economic Growth and Gender Inequality,’ in Women in African Development: The Challenges of Globalisation and Liberalisation in the 21st Century (eds.) S. H. Boko, M. Baliamoune-Lutz & S.
- R. Kimuna, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, pp. 13-32.
- Britz, J. J., Lor, P. J., Coetzee, I. E. M. & Bester, B. B., 2006, ‘Africa As a Knowledge
- Society: A Reality Check,’ The International Information and Library Review,
- (1): 25-40.
- Chanda, K., 2004, ‘Empowering the Rural Poor: ICTs to Enhance Delivery of Health
- Systems’, accessible at: www.i4donline.net/issue/march04/enhance_full.htm
- Creevy, L., 2002, ‘Structural Adjustment and the Empowerment (or Disempowerment)
- of Women in Niger and Senegal,’ in Women in Developing Countries: Assessing
- Strategies for Empowerment (eds.) R. Datta & J. Kornberg, Boulder, Colorado
- and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 93-112.
- Engberg-Pedersen, P. et al., 1996, (eds.) Limits of Adjustment in Africa, Centre for
- Development Research Copenhagen in association with James Currey Oxford
- Heinemann Portsmouth (N.H.).
- Goorman, E. and Berg, M., 2000, ‘Modelling Nursing Activities: Electronic Patient
- Records and Their Discontents,’ Nursing Inquiry, 7: 3-9.
- Green, L., 2002, Communication, Culture and Society, London: SAGE Publications.
- Hafkin, N. J. and Huyer, S., 2006, (eds.) Cinderalla or Cyberella? Empowering
- Women in the Knowledge Society, Bloomfield: Kumarian Press Inc.
- Hanson, J. and Narula, U., 1990, (eds.) New Communication Technologies in
- Developing Countries, Hillsdale, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
- Publishers.
- Heap, N., Thomas, R., Einon, G., Mason, R. & Mackay, H. (eds.), 1995, Information
- Technology and Society: A Reader, London: Sage Publications.
- Heeks, R., 2005, ‘Free and Open Source Software,’ eDevelopment Briefing 1,
- Development Informatics Groups, University of Manchester, October 2005.
- Heeks, R., 2005, ‘Reframing the Role of Telecentres in Development,’ eDevelopment
- Briefing 2, Development Informatics Groups, University of Manchester,
- October 2005.
- Henwood, F. and Hart, A., 2003, ‘Articulating Gender in the Context of ICTs in
- Health Care: The Case of Electronic Patient Records in the Maternity Services,’
- Critical Social Policy, 23(2): 249-267.
- Jellema, J. and Westerweld, R., 2001, ‘Learning lessons from Failure: The Ugandan
- Telecentre Experience in Perspective,’ ITU Telcom Africa 2001, 12-16 November,
- Johannesburg.
- Kim, S. T. & Weaver D. H., 2003, ‘Reporting on Globalisation: A Comparative
- Analysis of Sourcing Patterns in Five Countries’ Newspapers,’ Gazette: The
- International Journal for Communication Studies, 65(2): 121-144.
- Mensah, J., 2006, (ed.) Understanding Economic Reforms in Africa: A Tale of
- Seven Nations, Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Nyang’oro, J. E. and Shaw T. M., 1992, Beyond Structural Adjustment in Africa:
- The Political Economy of Sustainable and Democratic Development. New
- York, Westport, Connecticut, London: Praeger.
- Ohmae, K., 2000, The Invisible Continent: Four Strategic Imperatives for the
- New Economy, London: Nicholas Brealey.
- Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S., 1997, Gender and Empowerment: Definitions, Approaches
- and Implications for Policy, BRIDGE (Development-Gender) Institute of
- Development Studies University of Sussex.
- Qing, W., 1999, ‘What I Know About Gender and Development,’ in J. Potter & E.
- Judd (eds.) Feminists Doing Development, London: ZED Books, pp. 57-69.
- Republic of Zambia, 2006, National Information and Communication Technology
- Policy, Ministry of Communication and Transport. Accessible at: http://
- www.mct.gov.zm/pdf/ict.pdf
- Rugumamu, S. M., 2005, Globalisation Demystified: Africa’s Possible Development
- Futures, Dar-es-Salaam: University Press Ltd.
- Sahn, D. E., Dorosh, P. Younger, S. D., 1997, Structural Adjustment Reconsidered:
- Economic Policy and Poverty in Africa, Cambridge: Cambridge University
- Press.
- Sen, A., 1999, Development as Freedom, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Song, G., 2003, The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies
- (ICTs) on Rural Households: A Holistic Approach Applied to the Case of
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic, New York: Peter Lang.
- UN Human Development Report, 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the
- Global Water Crisis, New York: UNDP.
- UN Human Development Report, 1990, Concept and Measurement of Human Development, New York: UNDP.
- Wajcman, J., 1991, Feminism Confronts Technology, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Warriner, S. and Martinez, A., 2005, ‘Telemedicine: Supporting Normality in Midwife-
- led Community Units,’ British Journal of Midwifery, 13 (10), October 2005.
- Wyatt, S., Henwood, F., Miller, N. & Senker, P. (eds.), 2000, Technology and In/
- Equality: Questioning the Information Society, London and New York:
- Routledge.
References
African Information Society Initiative (AISI), 2003, African Information Society Initiative (AISI): An Action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure, accessible at: http://www.uneca.org/aisi/aisi.htm#resolution.
Baliamoune-Lutz, M., 2005, ‘Globalisation, Economic Growth and Gender Inequality,’ in Women in African Development: The Challenges of Globalisation and Liberalisation in the 21st Century (eds.) S. H. Boko, M. Baliamoune-Lutz & S.
R. Kimuna, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, pp. 13-32.
Britz, J. J., Lor, P. J., Coetzee, I. E. M. & Bester, B. B., 2006, ‘Africa As a Knowledge
Society: A Reality Check,’ The International Information and Library Review,
(1): 25-40.
Chanda, K., 2004, ‘Empowering the Rural Poor: ICTs to Enhance Delivery of Health
Systems’, accessible at: www.i4donline.net/issue/march04/enhance_full.htm
Creevy, L., 2002, ‘Structural Adjustment and the Empowerment (or Disempowerment)
of Women in Niger and Senegal,’ in Women in Developing Countries: Assessing
Strategies for Empowerment (eds.) R. Datta & J. Kornberg, Boulder, Colorado
and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 93-112.
Engberg-Pedersen, P. et al., 1996, (eds.) Limits of Adjustment in Africa, Centre for
Development Research Copenhagen in association with James Currey Oxford
Heinemann Portsmouth (N.H.).
Goorman, E. and Berg, M., 2000, ‘Modelling Nursing Activities: Electronic Patient
Records and Their Discontents,’ Nursing Inquiry, 7: 3-9.
Green, L., 2002, Communication, Culture and Society, London: SAGE Publications.
Hafkin, N. J. and Huyer, S., 2006, (eds.) Cinderalla or Cyberella? Empowering
Women in the Knowledge Society, Bloomfield: Kumarian Press Inc.
Hanson, J. and Narula, U., 1990, (eds.) New Communication Technologies in
Developing Countries, Hillsdale, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Publishers.
Heap, N., Thomas, R., Einon, G., Mason, R. & Mackay, H. (eds.), 1995, Information
Technology and Society: A Reader, London: Sage Publications.
Heeks, R., 2005, ‘Free and Open Source Software,’ eDevelopment Briefing 1,
Development Informatics Groups, University of Manchester, October 2005.
Heeks, R., 2005, ‘Reframing the Role of Telecentres in Development,’ eDevelopment
Briefing 2, Development Informatics Groups, University of Manchester,
October 2005.
Henwood, F. and Hart, A., 2003, ‘Articulating Gender in the Context of ICTs in
Health Care: The Case of Electronic Patient Records in the Maternity Services,’
Critical Social Policy, 23(2): 249-267.
Jellema, J. and Westerweld, R., 2001, ‘Learning lessons from Failure: The Ugandan
Telecentre Experience in Perspective,’ ITU Telcom Africa 2001, 12-16 November,
Johannesburg.
Kim, S. T. & Weaver D. H., 2003, ‘Reporting on Globalisation: A Comparative
Analysis of Sourcing Patterns in Five Countries’ Newspapers,’ Gazette: The
International Journal for Communication Studies, 65(2): 121-144.
Mensah, J., 2006, (ed.) Understanding Economic Reforms in Africa: A Tale of
Seven Nations, Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Nyang’oro, J. E. and Shaw T. M., 1992, Beyond Structural Adjustment in Africa:
The Political Economy of Sustainable and Democratic Development. New
York, Westport, Connecticut, London: Praeger.
Ohmae, K., 2000, The Invisible Continent: Four Strategic Imperatives for the
New Economy, London: Nicholas Brealey.
Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S., 1997, Gender and Empowerment: Definitions, Approaches
and Implications for Policy, BRIDGE (Development-Gender) Institute of
Development Studies University of Sussex.
Qing, W., 1999, ‘What I Know About Gender and Development,’ in J. Potter & E.
Judd (eds.) Feminists Doing Development, London: ZED Books, pp. 57-69.
Republic of Zambia, 2006, National Information and Communication Technology
Policy, Ministry of Communication and Transport. Accessible at: http://
www.mct.gov.zm/pdf/ict.pdf
Rugumamu, S. M., 2005, Globalisation Demystified: Africa’s Possible Development
Futures, Dar-es-Salaam: University Press Ltd.
Sahn, D. E., Dorosh, P. Younger, S. D., 1997, Structural Adjustment Reconsidered:
Economic Policy and Poverty in Africa, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Sen, A., 1999, Development as Freedom, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Song, G., 2003, The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) on Rural Households: A Holistic Approach Applied to the Case of
Lao People’s Democratic Republic, New York: Peter Lang.
UN Human Development Report, 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the
Global Water Crisis, New York: UNDP.
UN Human Development Report, 1990, Concept and Measurement of Human Development, New York: UNDP.
Wajcman, J., 1991, Feminism Confronts Technology, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Warriner, S. and Martinez, A., 2005, ‘Telemedicine: Supporting Normality in Midwife-
led Community Units,’ British Journal of Midwifery, 13 (10), October 2005.
Wyatt, S., Henwood, F., Miller, N. & Senker, P. (eds.), 2000, Technology and In/
Equality: Questioning the Information Society, London and New York:
Routledge.