Communicating diabetes in Kenya

The overall aim is to serve the pilot project with World Diabetes Foundation, and International Media Support in Kenya using diabetes awareness and communications as a theme to focus humanitarian and health reporting in Kenya.

For Diabetes Communication - Tuzungumzie Kisukari - CartONG developed and implemented the communication platform, consisting of web presence, finding service map and the SMS based communication. The webpage is built on WordPress, an open source content management system. Finding services is based on Ushahidi, an Open Source Software originally developed in Kenya; the SMS based communication is utilising FrontlineSMS, an Open Source Software with a team of developers coding in Kenya.

The overall usage of the Webportal will be mapping out diabetes related health services and hosting a range of information and communication products. This portal is meant to be a virtual platform for Diabetes patients and their kin, supporting diabetes organizations and clinics with specifically designed services, as well as supporting journalists interested in reporting on health issues like diabetes. This Portal is public and hosts only public information.

To reach a wider audience, new tools to communicate are being piloted, including Social Media and SMS based communication. Many people in rural Kenya do not have access to computers, but do have access to phones. To reach them, a free subscription service sending out alert and awareness raising messages as well as self management messages was envisaged. This service could also include direct communication with participating clinics for stock taking (e.g. number of patients treated per week) as well as general user polls to feel out what topics the subscribers are interested in.