Healthcare Technology Featured Article

January 20, 2014

Fionet Mobile Information Fights Malaria in Award-winning Colombian Health Initiative


Proyecto Malaria Colombia (PMC) received the 2013 “Malaria Champions of Americas” award with the help of technology from the Fio Corporation. The award is given annually by the Pan American Health Organization and its partners to recognize innovative efforts in the Americas for preventing and controlling the challenges presented by malaria in order to inspire hope around the world in the fight against the disease. Fionet, a cloud-based infectious disease management solution created by the Fio Corporation, was instrumental in PMC's success.

According to Andrés Oyola, Project Manager for the Colombian health initiative, “Fionet played a valuable role in our success story.” Fionet supplied PMC with mobile phones and Deki software, which allowed health workers to remotely manage patient flow and microscopy testing for malaria. Deki Readers for the smartphones provided step-by-step guidance for running and understanding the results of various diagnostic tests with high rates of both speed and accuracy.

Oyola went on to say that Fionet and the mobile devices “strengthened PMC's capabilities to remotely manage health worker activity and make better informed resource allocation decisions.” PMC recorded over 115,000 malaria cases in 2010, but with Fionet's assistance that number dropped by nearly 50 percent in only two years. Fionet helped PMC test and track cases of malaria, while also discerning the difference between positive and negative results. Best of all, the cloud-based system allowed for easy data transfer to Colombia’s national epidemiologic surveillance system, SIVIGILA.

Fionet's health information technology allowed PMC to greatly improve both the speed and quality of their testing, and to quickly train personnel to the levels of qualified healthcare professionals. As a result, the project will have a lasting impact on the war against malaria for years to come, and other countries at risk to the disease will likely use Fionet or similar mobile technology in their efforts.




Edited by Ryan Sartor
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