Information for Action

•Problem: lack of real time information

•Solution: use simple phones to gather

info

•SMS =160 characters: i.e. can’t do

MICS but can be fast

•RapidSMS: turns individual SMSs in to

meaningful information, displaying,

graphing and mapping it on the web

Malawi

Costs low since health workers have cells

• Training• Costs of SMS messages

CHILD +l allon c7476 u1495 s102

form CODE

CHILD +lallon c7476 u1495 s102

number of separated

and unaccompanied children

location name

number of children

number of children under 5

example form about children

CHILD: Allon, 7476 children, 1495 children under 5, 102 separated or unaccompanied. Thank you for your data!

CHILD: Allon, 7476 children, 1495 children under 5, 102 separated or unaccompanied. Thank you for your data!

SMS monitor gets back:

Type of Water Source1 Open Well2 Closed Well3 River4 Piped Spring7 Open Spring8 Other

Must know info: location, type of water source and risky behavior (open defecation and lack of handwasing)

Designing a WASH rapid assessment form for

WATER +lmalumgoka s7 ty wn

form CODE

location name

water pointtype

code

open defecation

y/n

example form about WASH

WATER +lmalumgoka s7 ty wn

handwashing

y/n