BID Initiative is on Facebook and Twitter!
Nov 24, 2014
Posted in BID Learning Network (BLN), General
We are pleased to announce that the BID Initiative is now on Facebook and Twitter! We are looking forward to further connecting with our country partners, key stakeholders, and those interested in our efforts towards achieving better immunization outcomes through improved data quality, collection and use. We encourage you to fan and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
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Increasing Efficiency with Barcode Technology in Tanzania
Nov 21, 2014
Posted in Policies & Practices, Products
In 2010,PATH set out to identify how low income countries could benefit from using barcode technology to improve the efficiency of the vaccine supply chain. The objective was to support the design of sustainable barcode technology to increase the efficiency and visibility of vaccine supply chain at all levels of the supply chain to facilitate decision making so Ministries of Health could achieve safety of vaccines and more efficient immunization programs.
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BLN Design Collaborative Preview, 1st-4th December 2014
Nov 18, 2014
Posted in BID Learning Network (BLN)
The BID Learning Network (BLN) is a mechanism within the BID Initiative for peer-to-peer learning, problem analysis and exchange of ideas that are expected to culminate into solutions appropriate to participating countries. Its intent is to promote deeper connectivity between immunization and eHealth communities to share best practices, innovations and together interrogate challenges and propose solutions. The BLN is a platform to acquire practical skills and knowledge that strengthen existing in-country efforts. To facilitate contributions, the BLN regularly conducts webinars, publishes blog posts, prompts discussion through Google Groups and holds technical and general meetings that afford opportunities for learning and interaction among participants.
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How to Improve Access to Affordable Health Care
Nov 13, 2014
Posted in BID Learning Network (BLN), News, People, Practices
In support of their Healthy Means campaign, Devex published an article, “How to improve access to affordable health care,” that resonates with some of the work we are doing with the BID Initiative. The article stresses that while access and affordability are important, without strong health systems and quality service delivery with accountability and effective oversight, health care service will remain insufficient.
Read MoreRFP for Electronic Immunization Registry Development in Tanzania
Nov 6, 2014
Posted in Products
The BID Initiative will introduce information system products and immunization practices that can be tested in Tanzania and Zambia, packaged for dissemination and then deployed at scale in many countries. To accomplish this, we have submitted a request for proposal for Electronic Immunization Registry Development in Tanzania.
Read MoreA Strategic Approach to Investing in Data Systems
Nov 5, 2014
Posted in General, People, Policies & Practices
In 2012, when Bill and Melinda Gates approved the creation of an explicit Routine Immunization strategy, we noted to them that improved immunization data is a fundamental driver of improved immunization systems overall. However, at the time, we did not have a comprehensive, strategic approach to investing in data systems. Rather than conduct a series of small, academic studies on this topic, we made a large investment to PATH—the Better Immunization Data (BID) Initiative—with the belief that systems change, and improving data, would require a complex, holistic approach and that based in part of the BID Initiative’s progress, we’d figure out our own strategy along the way.
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Perspectives on the Digital Development Opportunity
Oct 31, 2014
Posted in People, Practices, Products
PATH’s DHS team has been early supporters and shapers of the GreenTree Consensus, a set of principles focusing on the importance of working with governments and key stakeholders to ensure that all projects and services are appropriate, scalable and affordable. Kate Wilson, a key advisor to the BID Initiative, recently provided her perspective on the article on the PATH blog, citing the BID Initiative as a great example of how technology is enabling innovative solutions to global problems.
Read MoreInterventions: Community Micro-training Videos
Oct 29, 2014
In an effort to build on momentum being gained within PATH, the Better Immunization Data (BID) Initiative is leveraging a project that is bringing micro-training videos to targeted communities. More specifically, Projecting Health is a community-led, video-driven approach that empowers the communities to identify, develop and produce their own videos to foster the adoption of desired behaviors.
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First Field Visit in Zambia’s Southern Province
Oct 27, 2014
The week of October 12th the Better Immunization Data (BID) Initiative team in Zambia and I began our first field activities in the Southern Province. We were joined by representatives from the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health at national, provincial and district levels who visited facilities in Livingstone and helped us kick off an exciting journey to develop solutions and interventions for better health outcomes. The visit to the district was preceded by a meeting with the Provincial Medical Officer, Dr. Jelita Chinyonga, who expressed excitement over the BID Initiative’s presence which will help address existing challenges on immunization data-capturing and data-use in her province and enhance service provision at all levels of the health care system.
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Satellite Office Now Open in Livingstone
Oct 24, 2014
Posted in General
The beginning of October marked the opening of our Livingstone office in the Southern Province of Zambia. This is a huge step forward for Zambia as a demonstration country because we will now focus on selecting initial test sites in the Livingstone area, where the team will jointly design solutions with members of the health facilities and the district, and then develop a strategy for rollout of BID Initiative solutions across the Southern Province.
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