KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

MAIN CAMPUS

SCHOOL OF APPLIED HUMAN SCIENCES

DEPERTMENT OF FOODS, NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

For the award of BSc FOODS, NUTRITION AND DIETETICS.

NAME: MUTURI CHRISTINE WAIRIMU

REG No.: H09S/5189/09

UNIT: HEH 103 – Environmental Health Education.

LECTURER: Ms. Judy Mugo

TASK: Discuss the role of ICT in Environmental Health Education in Kenya.

HANDED IN ON: 24th November, 2010

SIGNED:
INTRODUCTION
Information and communication technology is an umbrella term that covers all technical
ways for processing and communicating information. It is most often used to describe digital
technologies including methods for communication, as well as techniques for storing and
processing information. The term has gained popularity partially due to the convergence of
information technology (IT) and telecom technology. It consists of telecommunications, radio
and television, the internet and all other digital methods of disseminating information.
Contrary to the perception that people have that ICT is the solution to all health problems, we
are expected to realize that it is only a tool in achieving effective environmental health
education. According to Dr. Christopher Wood, founder of AfriAfya, “ICTs are not a
vaccine, a water pump, food or a drug. They therefore do nothing directly themselves to
prevent or treat disease or poverty. They are a tool for conveying information.”
ICT has the potential to impact upon almost every aspect of the health sector. In public
health, information management and communication processes are pivotal, and are facilitated
or limited by the available information and communication technology. In addition, beyond
the formal health sector, the ability of impoverished communities to access services and
engage with and demand a health sector that responds to their priorities and needs, is
importantly influenced by wider information and communication processes, mediated by
ICT.
In this paper I shall discuss the role of ICT in environmental health education, the challenges
it faces and the emerging trends in ICT
ROLE OF ICT IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
1. Spread of information
ICT has contributed to the spread of information on many health related issues. A lot of
information has been posted on the internet and is featured on radio and television
advertisements. The most recent advertisement is on the importance of visiting the health
clinic with your spouse. This advertisement stresses the need of visiting the health centre
together with ones wife and encouraging her to follow what she is told. This will sensitize the
parents of the unborn child to practice good environmental health practices so as to protect
the baby. Other advertisements aim to spread information on abstinence, the importance of
using condoms and washing our hands.
2. Training of environmental health education workers
ICT helps in the training of environmental health education workers by making information
more accessible to them. A PowerPoint curriculum can be developed making learning more
interesting and friendly. E - Learning centres save on time and minimise training costs
making it more affordable to get trained as an environmental health educator. E-mailed
newsletters and updates make information available as it emerges making the health
educators up to date with the available information.
3. Management of information
ICT is useful in research. Health educators can manage data bases whish keep them informed
on the endemicity of various diseases and when the environment – agent – host balance is
shifted. A constant supply of this information helps the health educators come up with
education interventions when need be.
4. Disease management
ICT has been useful in managing diseases. In Siaya, when a child is suspected to have Rota
virus, and cannot produce stool at the time of the health centre visit, the mother is given a
sample container and advised to take the sample at home. She is then given a number which
she can call to inform the health centre when the sample is available so that the centre can
come to collect it. This enables correct diagnosis of the disease and therefore more effective
treatment and reservoir control. In some areas people are able to call for advice on health
related issues and are able to get the information for example the doctors on call programme
where people can call, send text messages or emails and their health related questions will be
answered. When a communicable disease is suspected in a patient, the care givers are advised
to contact a health facility so that they are given first aid advice which they help the patient
with before the health workers arrive. When drugs are not available in hospital, patients are
contacted using text messages or voice calls to be informed of the drug availability.

5. ICT in achievement of the MDGs

Three of the eight MDGs are directly related to health. These are:

 Reduce child mortality (goal 4)

 Improve Maternal health (goal 6)
 Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. (goal 6)
Achievement of these MDGs is pinned on the other MDGs which are not necessarily directly
be linked to health but are important in the achievement of universal health. These are:

 eradicating poverty and hunger (goal 1)

  improving education (goal 2)
 Empowering and educating women (goal 3)
 Improving water sanitation systems; a key component to goal 7;
 Improving international relationships (goal 8)
The World Bank (2003) argues that there is growing evidence of the ability of ICTs to:-
 Provide new more efficient methods of production
 Bring previously unattainable markets within the reach of the poor
 Improve delivery of government services
 Facilitate transfer of knowledge.
With this in mind we can say that ICT is important in sharing of information on the MDGs
making it available to the people and providing the necessary information on how to achieve
them for the attainment of better health.
6. Providing a platform for the sharing of information and experiences
ICT through social networking and interactive sessions in radio and television provides a
platform for peer education on health issues such as HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections. Groups on the networking sites e.g. Facebook provide information that is friendly
to its target group and thus facilitates peer learning.

CHALLENGES
a) Connectivity
Lack of access to electricity, solar power option and other modes of power supply, a lack of
internet access for most Kenyans and the high cost of putting up network boosters, buying
ICT tools and their maintenance hinders connectivity to ICT services.
b) Content
There is a lack of local content creation with most of the content being generated from
outside. This information may be irrelevant to the current situation in our country. Use of
appropriate language is often neglected with most of the information being in technical terms
which most people do not understand. The content of the sites is seldom available in local
languages. The content being put forward may have errors or may not be up to date with the
current information.
c) Education
Currently there is a lack of education on how to access health information using ICT. Many
people are not computer literate and thus cannot access information from the internet.
d) Cost
The cost of ICT products and tools is too high for most people in the country e.g. the cost of a
mobile phone, air time and the cost of internet access in the cyber cafes is very high for most
people.
 e) Appropriateness of the technology used
At times the technological media used may distract the listeners from the information being
given as they concentrate on the media for example, a power point presentation in the village
may not be a very good idea especially since some of the people may not have experienced it
before.

EMERGING TRENDS
 Wireless access to the internet
Wireless internet has the potential to provide faster more affordable internet connectivity.
With the recent laying down of the fibre optic cables, internet access is slowly becoming a
reality to many Kenyans.
 Wider use of telephones especially mobile telephones
Through this, health workers will be able to track and monitor patients using mobile phones.
Health information and advice can be sent using these mobile phones.
 Greater exploitation of power of radio and the ability of radio content ob be locally
determined
The liberalization of radio broadcasting plays a role in positioning radio as a powerful
communication route. Through radio, alot of information may be transferred to the people.

 Use of digital video techniques to enable local language communication tools

Health workers in the villages can now carry VCD and DVD players that can communicate a
message which can then be followed by a thorough discussion.

CONCLUSION
The role of ICT in environmental health education is mainly an informational role where it is
used as a tool to provide relevant information to both the educators and the people.
REFERENCES:
Infodev: 1. ICT and health: 12 key lessons
2. ICT in the health sector: Literature review, prepared for infodev by Jackie
Davis.(march 2006).
3. Working paper no. 7. Improving hjealth, connecting people: the Role of ICT in the
Health Sector of developing countries. A frame work paper. (May 2006).