African countries have been on the receiving end of many innovations throughout their history, however they are now employing mobile devises in ways that are making the rest of the world sit up and take notice, and maybe learn a thing or two.
Voices of Africa is a site that encourages young Africans to become local reporters. It consists of an outlet for news and a training program sponsored by Voices of Africa Media Foundation. These reporters, armed with nothing more than a camera and texting-ready cell phone, are bringing marvelous stories of accomplishments in local villages and are responsible for shining light on corrupt local politicians resulting in some indictments. The reporters see their role as providing “stimulating ( citizen) journalism, democracy will be served and this may stimulate good governance in Africa.”
In yet another innovative and powerful employment of cell phones, Fareed Zein, a Sudanese now living in Texas, has adapted and implemented a mobile-powered monitoring tool that contributed to keeping the January referendum vote in Sudan open and honest. "I believe technology is the equalizer," says Zein. His service is Sudan Vote Monitor (SVM), which is an adaptation of Ushahidi (Witness) that was mounted in the run-up to Kenya's referendum in 2010. As this video shows, Ushahidi is an open source program (free and offered for adaptation) that has played a vital role in recent elections and disasters around the world.
Kenya has begun using a system that will make it possible for consumers to use text messages to find out if a particular medicine was wholesome or counterfeit. Dr. Esther Ogara, Manager of Kenya's e-Health policy is publicly promoting mPedigree, that was implemented with great success in Ghana several years ago. Kenya, not unlike other African countries, is plagued by the prevalence of counterfeit drugs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLfNuyyora4&feature=player_embedded
All Africa News reported that Kenya began using PDAs back in 2001 to collect data in the field to determine the efficacy of the outreach effort for measles immunization campaigns. Red Cross personnel in various locations of the country, where week-long campaigns were underway, sent text messages to share methods that worked and those that did not so adjustments could be made, nation wide, at the end of each day. Normally, the campaign would be completed and various sites would write up their experiences and the recommendations shared five months later, hoping that the information would assist future immunization campaigns. They are using similar messaging to report all of their weekly and monthly utilization, disease surveillance and supply data into the district health system. This is very successful in both reducing the cost of the health information system by 25 percent, just for the data transfer, and reducing the time it took to get information - down from four weeks to one week.
These are just a few examples of developing countries innovative use of mobile devices. Study of such innovations can serve as creative seedbeds for cities and municipalities nationwide.
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