Case study celebrates lessons and catalytic potential of rapid, iterative software development across three countries
By Celina Kareiva, Senior Communications Associate, BID Initiative
Feb 26, 2020
Posted in Packaging, Policies & Practices, Products
Pakistan, Zambia, and Kenya are among a growing number of countries implementing electronic immunization registries (EIRs) to improve data quality and health facility performance. But EIRs can be costly to design and introduce. Seeking a solution that had already demonstrated proof of concept, these countries turned to the Open Smart Register Platform (OpenSRP), a mobile health platform based on global standards of care that allows frontline health workers to electronically register and track individuals for immunization. Hoping to document the potential and lessons of open-source software developed through user-centered design, and with research-informed adaptation, the BID Initiative partnered with other implementing partners, including I-TECH, Ona, and Interactive Research and Development (IRD) to draft a case study exploring the localization and adaptation of OpenSRP’s immunization module.
Drawing on partner experiences in Pakistan, Zambia, and Kenya, this case study explores the benefits of iterating on open-source software, and discusses the potential for each new iteration of the application to become more functional and affordable than the last. Flexible design and open collaboration can greatly reduce the cost of future software development. Thanks to the progress made across these three countries and beyond, future countries that adapt OpenSRP to create their own EIRs should see significant cost- and time-savings. Read the full case study.