Network leverages the knowledge, skills, and resources of the public and private sectors to build sustainable health solutions for underserved communities and populations. Network Global is focused on access to care for hard to reach populations as well as ways of utilizing Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the health sector. Network Global also provides technical assistance to local health NGOs in capacity building areas such as planning (operational and strategic), organizational development and monitoring and evaluation.

The Network Approach

Network's approach is at the cutting-edge of global health, blending technical and strategic expertise to improve the health status of poverty-stricken communities. Few global health organizations use a model that explicitly leverages technical and strategic assistance for health projects. Network has particular expertise in rural healthcare, technology applications in health and health advocacy, including developing documentary films. Network forms and coordinates collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, providing the following forms of assistance to our partners.

Core Areas of Work

Rural Health

Network works with its partners to improve access to healthcare services for rural populations. This involves mobile health outreach and capacity building for rural health clinics, including operational and strategic planning, human resources for health, volunteer support, and monitoring and evaluation. Our model leverages a comprehensive approach to health outreach that addresses both infectious and chronic diseases as prioritized by the communities in which we work.

ICT & Health

Information Communication Technology (ICT) can protect and improve health through various applications including disease surveillance, health education, electronic medical records, health security, health commodity management, and medical devices. Network is currently working on pilot programs using a number of different technology approaches in its health programs with corporate partners and other NGO collaborators. These projects include satellite connectivity to improve communications for rural health workers, health information management systems and using text messaging for health education and other cell phone based ICT and health projects.

Mass Media Approaches to Information, Education, Communication (IEC) / Behavior Change Communications (BCC) & Advocacy through Documentary Film

Mass media projects that utilize radio, television, cinema and other approaches can reach people in both urban and rural areas with the information they need to be empowered protect and improve their health. Network leverages mass media for IEC/BCC and advocacy on important health issues through documentary film and other mass media projects.

Local and International Volunteers

Network hosts both local and international volunteers to support our programs in Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. These volunteer opportunities provide rewarding experiences for exceptional candidates looking to work on innovative public health programs. For more information on our international volunteer opportunities, please contact kyelpaala@niworldhealth.org.

Rural Health

Ghana Health Service (GHS): Network Ghana has a partnership with the GHS to provide quality health care services to 500,000 people living on island communities on the Volta Lake Basin. The GHS is the agency responsible for implementing national policies set by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Ghana. The GHS is implementing a program to provide health outreach to island communities of the Volta Lake via boat clinics. As part of its collaboration, Network Ghana provides strategic, technical, and advocacy support to the GHS for the boat clinic program. As well, Network has partnered with MATRIX Public Health Consultants to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the boat clinic program.

ICT & Health

Through its partnership with I-Linx, an international satellite communications service provider, Network Ghana is testing the integration of satellite communications technology into the boat clinic program in order to improve communications for boat clinic workers. In the summer of 2007, Network Ghana had 2 international volunteers conduct field assessment of the satellite devices and present them to GHS officials.

Advocacy through Documentary Film

Network produced “Hardest to Reach,” a documentary film accepted in the Reel Black festival at Stanford University, which serves as a powerful advocacy tool in promoting the boat clinic program and the health needs of people living in the Volta Lake basin.

Volunteers

Network Ghana sources local volunteers from the National Service Secretariat (NSS) and leading universities in Ghana. The National Service Scheme places fresh university graduates in public (and some private) institutions. All university graduates in Ghana are required to serve through this program for one year. Network also hosts international volunteers in addition to working with volunteers from Yale University, Haverford College, and Peace Corps alumni.

Rural Health - Boat Clinic Outreach Project

Network for the Improvement of World Health aims to expand the boat clinic program it is working on in Ghana to sites in Tanzania. Network staff identified Kigoma and Rufiji Districts as partners through site visits. Kigoma District is located on Lake Tangynika, with a population of 512,425 people according to the 2002 Census in Tanzania. 50% of the population lives along the lake, many of which are hard to reach and have limited access to healthcare. Rufiji District is home to the largest river in Tanzania, the Rufiji River. Five hours southeast of Dar es Salaam by road, there are about 50,000 people that live on the Rufiji River Delta, with about 400-2000 people per island community. Network for the Improvement of World Health aims to provide technical and strategic assistance to our partners in Tanzania to scale up sustainable access to healthcare through boat clinics. As well, we will facilitate the sharing of information and best practices between the national boat clinic program in Ghana and sites in Tanzania.

Technical Assistance – Special Project

Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation Ltd. (WAMA FOUNDATION): The WAMA Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete of Tanzania with the vision to see an increased number of economically empowered women, progressive communities, and healthy, well-educated children free from ignorance and disease. Network is partnering with WAMA Foundation to support its efforts to improve the health status of the girl-child in Tanzania. This includes technical support in their strategic and program planning as well as program implementation.

ICT & Health

SoftNet: Network Tanzania has a partnership with SoftNet to explore the use of Short Messaging Services (SMS, also known as text messaging) to provide information and education on health issues and the development of robust, user-friendly health information management systems for hospitals in Tanzania. SoftNet is a Tanzania-based ICT firm that provides information technology products, services and solutions; value-added telecommunications services, including voice and data convergence; and messaging and communication solutions using state of the art technologies at affordable cost.

IEC/BCC & Advocacy Through Documentary Film

Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation Ltd. (WAMA FOUNDATION): Network is collaborating with the WAMA Foundation to produce a feature documentary film on girl-child health challenges in Tanzania as a health advocacy project. Network is in the planning stages of a series of IEC/BCC programs targeting both in-school and out-of school youth with health education and interventions focusing on infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

Cross-Cutting Program: Rural Health and ICT & Health

Nomadic Communities Trust (NCT): Network Kenya is collaborating with NCT to provide technical assistance to improve NCT’s operational efficiency and logistics planning, and to integrate satellite connectivity for their program through the use of satellite modem devices. NCT is a Kenyan community-based organization that provides healthcare services to remote, nomadic populations in Samburu District facing significant health challenges including HIV/AIDS, malaria, upper respiratory tract infections, famine, drought, lack of clean water, and extreme poverty. For more information on NCT, please see http://www.nomadictrust.com.