Pesinet’s service leverages the quality GSM network in Africa and open-source software to record and transfer information and then reduce the amount of time a doctor needs to access and analyze it.

A mobile application has been developed to collect and transfer data on the ground by Pesinet’s agents. An online application linked to a database allows for remote monitoring of health data by the local doctor, activity management and tracking of key impact indicators.

Data flows go through three steps:

Data collection
Health agents record data on their mobile phones via a customised JAVA applet designed to be easy to download, install and use.

The phone keeps track of each subscriber so that the agents can easily access and update recorded information on a patient.

Data transfer and treatment
Each day, proximity health agents send the data through the GPRS network to a central server. Pesinet pays for the bandwidth used and manages the server infrastructure.

Display and features
Collected information is made available through a web interface with two main features: pre-sorting and flagging of abnormal cases and generation of medical records

Activity management and administration
Program coordinators can administrate the service and monitor the collection and the enrolment processes. Automatically generated activity reports ease remote follow-up by each management level. The systems also allows monitoring of key progress indicators on Pesinet’s impact. Data is aggregated and statistics displayed in restricted access at different levels (by program, by region, by country).

Watch the flash animation and read a summary of the key steps of the Pesinet health services.

>> Our proximity health agents periodically weigh children, check symptoms of generic diseases on pregnant women and spread hygiene and sanitation practices.

>> Health data is transferred in real-time and presented to the doctor of the nearest Community Health Center through a website that flags abnormalities.

>> Families access free doctor examination and half-price medication within 24 hours after check-up.

>> Subscribers pay an affordable monthly fee for the service – less than 1€, the equivalent of a day of work for 90% of Malian people.

>> Each Pesinet site allows to follow-up on the health of over 1000 subscribers.