Neil Pakenham-Walsh , Coordinator neil@ghi-net Global Healthcare Information Network

2. Healthcare Information For All by 2015 Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Coordinator neil@ghi-net.org Global Healthcare Information Network WHO, Geneva, 1st December 2008

3. Outline • Why is HIFA2015 needed? • What have we achieved? • What next?

4. Why is HIFA2015 needed?

5. “The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.” WHO Constitution 1947

6. “large parts of the world are effectively untouched by health research” Professor Martin McKee, LSH&TM, BMJ 2008

7. “People are dying for lack of knowledge” Pascal Mouhouelo WHO AFRO Library, Brazzaville, Congo AHILA 10, Mombassa, October 2006

8. “Access to health information is a prerequisite for meeting the Millennium Development Goals” Dr Manuel Tomo Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Mozambique, AHILA 11, 6th October 2006

9. People are dying for lack of knowledge People are dying because the person responsible for their care does not know the right thing to do to save them This is true whether the person responsible is a mother, a traditional birth attendant, a primary health worker, or a doctor in a rural district hospital This situation is NOT ACCEPTABLE

10. People are dying for lack of knowledge Examples: Child health care Four in ten mothers in India believed they should withhold fluids if their baby develops diarrhoea Only half of children with pneumonia receive appropriate care, and less than 20% receive life-saving antibiotics - even when these interventions are locally available Three-quarters of hospital doctors responsible for hospitalised children in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda had profound lack of knowledge of pneumonia, septicaemia and other common, life-threatening childhood diseases

11. “The challenge is to ensure that everyone in the world has access to clean, clear health knowledge – a basic human right, and a public health need as important as access to clean, clear water, and much more easily achievable” Drs Tikki Pang, Muir Gray & Tim Evans Lancet 2004

12. Can we achieve health information for all by 2015? • Thousands of organisations are involved - there is no magic bullet • There is little if any evidence that primary health workers in the developing world are any better informed than they were 10 years ago • Our collective impact will be much greater if we communicate more effectively, and develop a better understanding of information needs and how to meet them. Fiona Godlee et al. Can we achieve health information for all by 2015? Lancet 2004

13. “We propose that WHO takes the lead in championing the goal of Health Information for All by 2015.” Fiona Godlee et al. Can we achieve health information for all by 2015? Lancet 2004

14. “Health Information For All by 2015 is an ambitious goal but it can be achieved if all stakeholders work together” Dr Tikki Pang Letter of Support for the Global Healthcare Information Network to take responsibility for HIFA2015 campaign, 2006

15. 2: What have we achieved so far?

16. Launch of HIFA2015, AHILA Congress, Mombasa 2006

17. HIFA2015 members 1,876 members in 116 countries worldwide

18. Members: Geography

19. Members: Expertise

20. WHO Geneva 38 Regional Offices 13 Country Offices 18 Total = 69 HIFA members at WHO WHO Country Offices Burkina Faso Burundi DR Congo Ghana India Kenya Mozambique Niger Peru (2) Rwanda (2) South Africa Sri Lanka Swaziland Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe

21. HIFA2015 activities in 2007 HIFA2015 and CHILD2015 email forums 1000 members in first year Fostering the development of an inclusive, participatory community: -- Defining our goal -- How do we achieve our goal? -- How do we measure progress?

22. “Our common goal: By 2015, every person worldwide will have access to an informed healthcare provider” HIFA2015 members

23. “…and this is how we will do it” HIFA2015 members

26. In other words… HIFA2015 members work collectively to: • share experience and expertise • build understanding of information needs and barriers • identify and promote cost-effective solutions HIFA2015 members (and others) work independently to: • implement solutions The distinction is critical

27. HIFA2015 activities in 2008 Funding from BMA (Jan-Dec 2008) Increased membership  2,000 Thematic discussions eg: • Internet access in rural areas • Knowledge to manage childhood pneumonia • Training of traditional birth attendant Web conferences (Kampala) Website: www.hifa2015.org Beginning of HIFA2015 Knowledge Base

28. HIFA 2008 Challenge • HIFA 2008 Challenge: Meeting the information needs of medical, nursing, midwifery and allied health students • -- Working Group – BMA, Medsin, IFMSA, RCN, RCM • -- Work plan • Enrol students on HIFA2015 • Literature review • Catalyse new practical initiatives • Build on achievements through to 2015.

29. 3. What next? HIFA2015 Knowledge Base HIFA 2009 Challenge

30. HIFA Knowledge Base • Bellagio meeting 2008 • Understand the ‘knowledge cycle’ – drivers and barriers in the production, exchange and delivery of healthcare information in low-income settings • Understand and address the information needs of different healthcare providers (eg mothers, nurses, clinical officers) • Understand and address information needs for priority diseases and clinical challenges (eg childhood pneumonia; postpartum haemorrhage) • Understand and address needs in different geographical settings • Understand and address the lack of political and financial commitment for health information activities

31. Understanding the knowledge cycle

32. Understanding the knowledge cycle Knowledge cycle diagram (Adapted from Godlee et al 2004)

33. HIFA2015 Knowledge Base Institute of Development Studies Website HIFA2015 website

34. Announcement: 2009 Challenge Meeting the information needs ofnurses and midwives • International Confederation of Midwives • International Council of Nurses • Royal College of Nurses • Royal College of Midwives • Midwives Information and Resource Service • Global Alliance for Nursing and Midwifery

35. Monitoring and Evaluation M&E of Process - What difference does HIFA2015 make to its members? - Does HIFA2015 lead to improvements in communication, understanding and advocacy around health information issues? M&E of Progress - What are the tangible outputs? - How can we measure progress towards the HIFA2015 goal?

36. “Since I joined, I have had help from various individuals belonging to the HIFA2015 network. HIFA2015 is already changing the world for the better. At least, it is changing me!” Olayinka O. Ayankogbe, Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 29th September 2008

37. “I was in Mombasa at the AHILA 10 conference and since then I have considered HIFA2015 to be the best thing to happen in my life concerning my career. I have learnt so, so much from the discussions.” Beatrice Muraguri, Health Information Officer, MoH, Kenya 30 November 2008

38. What you can do next 1. Join HIFA2015 2. Consider how your department might contribute/benefit: • Promote your publications or services on HIFA2015? • Undertake a survey of HIFA members? • Hold a thematic discussion or web conference? Like to meet? I am in Geneva until Wednesday lunchtime, 3rd December. London/Oxford. Email: neil@ghi-net.org

39. Acknowledgments HIFA2015 Steering Group HIFA2015 Advisory Panel HIFA2015 members and volunteers BMA HIFA2015 Supporting Organisations

40. HIFA2015 Supporting Organisations 34 health and development organisations worldwide, including: • AHILA • BioMed Central • Book Aid International • British Medical Association • International Federation of Medical Students • Hesperian Foundation • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine • Royal College of Midwives • Royal College of Nursing • TALC • THET

41. Conclusions • People are dying for lack of knowledge • HIFA2015 is achievable • Join today! Thank you neil@ghi-net.orgwww.hifa2015.org