Sierra Leoneβs maternal and child mortality rates are among the worst in the world. The countryβs already overburdened health system was hit hard by the Ebola emergency, which diverted resources and claimed the lives of many health workers.
Improving maternal health is a central plank of Sierra Leoneβs post-Ebola recovery plan. The countryβs 10,000 community health workers (CHWs), who provide basic health advice, are key to achieving this goal. They bridge the gap between trained health professionals and communities with scarce access to doctors or nurses.
To help community health workers reach those in need, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Media Action trialled two mobile health services, Welbodi Tok and Welbodi Campus.
Welbodi Tok, which loosely translates as βhealth talkβ, is an audio-visual aid consisting of interactive voice response technology and a deck of illustrated cards. Using a basic mobile phone, health workers are able to dial a phone number to access recorded information on topics ranging from the treatment of diarrhoea, to breastfeeding and good hygiene. The advice is dispensed by means of a Q&A between a fictional βvillage womanβ and two authoritative, yet friendly βdoctorsβ, Dr Abi and Dr Morlai.
Welbodi Campus uses the same technology to trained community health workers. On registration, digital bookmarking technology enables users to complete the course at their own pace. After each nine-minute lesson, they are quizzed to test their knowledge. Those with a pass score would receive a printed certificate of completion.
A national ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Media Action conducted in 2015 found that mobile phone usage is widespread in Sierra Leone and that 52% of mobile phone owners own a basic model. Welbodiβs low-tech voice response services can be accessed by even the most basic mobile phone, making training and family health advice potentially available to a large number of users.
The initiative is based on a similar ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Media Action mHealth (Mobile Health) service βMobile Kunjiβ and βMobile Academyβ, which are being rolled out nationally in India.
Project information
| Project name | Welbodi Tok and Welbodi Campus - mHealth Sierra Leone |
| Funder | |
| Dates | June 2015 - January 2016 |
| Themes | Health |
| Outputs | Mobile services (IVR) |
| Broadcast partners |
MNOs (Mobile Network Operators), Concern Worldwide, GOAL and the Freetown WASH consortium. |
Our projects in Sierra Leone
-
Empowering adolescent girls in Sierra Leone
There are 32,500 girls in Sierra Leone aged 13-17 who are not in school. Our project called Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER) aims to aid in their transition to education, training or employment and inspire hope for their future. -
Protecting independent media for effective development
We are working with media support organisations and local partners to find out what works in supporting public interest media in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. -
Protecting pregnant women and children from malaria in Sierra Leone
Using insight from our response to the Ebola outbreak we're building awareness about malaria for those most at risk, using radio, TV, social media and community outreach. -
Using radio and television to inspire young people in Sierra Leone
Mi Stori (My Story) aims to inspire young people in Sierra Leone to be active, positive participants in their community through an interactive radio show and mini-documentaries championing positive role models.
