While the Internet has taken some parts of the world by storm, in some parts of the developing world, primarily Africa, many people do not fully benefit from the Internet. In Africa there are still considerable barriers to Internet use; access fees remain high and unreliable telephone lines limit service quality. With these constraints, many health managers have limited use of the World Wide Web and use e-mail as their most common method of communication.
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to assisting health managers to better manage their programs. MSH's Electronic Communications Unit promotes using information and communication technologies by providing useful and appropriate management information to health managers world wide through its web site, the Health Manager's Electronic Resource Center (http://erc.msh.org) and a variety of e-mail products. The effort is part of MSH's Family Planning Management and Development Project, funded by USAID.
MSH has developed several electronic information products, designed to meet the needs of developing country audiences with differing access to communications technology. The Manager's Electronic Resource Center, operating on a web platform, provides practical management information, tools and forums for interactive exchange for health professionals. For those health professionals who are limited to e-mail, we have designed a number of specialized e-mail products that deliver specialized management information.
Meeting the needs of diverse developing country audiences requires innovative use of different Internet technologies. Audience segmentation by access to technology and information needs is critical to developing effective information products.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Internet, Internet Tools
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Management Sciences for Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.