The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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PDA4HEALTH - Africa

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PDA4HEALTH is an electronic forum setup by SATELLIFE that aims to share up-to-date information, knowledge, and experiences on the use of handheld computers (Personal Digital Assistants, or PDAs) for data collection and information dissemination in developing country health settings. SATELLIFE says the forum is dedicated to serving health needs of the world's poorest nations by stimulating the flow of information through the use of information and communication technologies.
Communication Strategies
PDA4HEALTH allows communication via e-mail messages on a broad range of topics related to the use of handheld computers in clinical education and patient monitoring and public health programme management.

The range of topics covered include: choice of equipment, memory requirements, recharging devices, power issues, selection of relevant content, formatting needs, developing surveys for data collection, database creation, analysis of data, and generation of reports. The programme also explores creative ways to expand applications of the handheld computer.

Organisers claim that trained moderators ensure that appropriate messages are sent to the discussion group in an effort to maintain a high-quality dialogue.

The forum encourages organisations and institutions engaged in field projects involving PDAs to exchange lessons learned, challenges faced, and successes achieved.
Development Issues
Technology, Health.
Key Points
Interested persons may join PDA4HEALTH for free by sending an e-mail to: pda4health-join@healthnet.org (leave the subject line and the body of the message blank).

SATELLIFE was named a 2004 Tech Museum Awards Laureate. The Tech Museum of Innovation, located in San Jose, CA (USA), announced 25 Laureates for the awards programme, which celebrates those who leverage new and existing technologies to benefit humanity. SATELLIFE was named a Laureate for the Health Category Award.
Partners

SATELLIFE, American Red Cross, Makerere University Medical School in Kampala, HealthNet Uganda, Moi University Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Indiana University Kenya Programme, Acumen.

Sources

Afro-nets Digest, Vol 2, Issue 44 April 28 2004; and and press release forwarded by Leela McCullough to The Communication Initiative on September 13 2004.