One of the greatest health-care hurdles in Africa is how to make health information readily accessible to those who need it most. For years this has been managed via pamphlet distribution, but Health Education Africa (HEDUAfrica) has set about transforming both the way in which the information is transmitted and how the message is put across.
In a marriage of old and new, it has harnessed modern technology to present information in the time-honoured tradition of African storytelling. Its goal is to create awareness about health issues affecting pregnant women in underdeveloped countries.
Flow is proud to be part of this exciting initiative, having designed and maintained a new website for HEDUAfrica. The most exciting site element is a customised interactive web application that is freely available online. The application offers pregnant women and health-care personnel immediate access to a range of health advice on topics, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental health and HIV/Aids.
Flow’s programming studio head Richard Frank says the application was a challenge because it had to be compatible with touch-enabled devices.
“We used larger buttons that made navigation easier and ensured that multimedia elements were tablet compatible.
“Our analytics show that more than 20% of South African web users are now on touch-enabled tablet or mobile devices, so we are seeing more clients requesting these features,” he added.
The website is being used in tandem with touch screens set up in maternity clinics at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, and the Elias Motsoaledi Clinic and Senaoane Clinic in Soweto.
The HEDUAfrica project was initiated in 2011 by Professor Karen Sliwa of the Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, at the University of Cape Town, Dr Friedrich Thienemann and Christiaan Diedericks of integerafrica.