Kenya National Library Service’s E-health Corners

According to KNLS, e-health is an emerging service sector which has great potential to improve health care delivery to rural and remote communities and to promote health education and research. The project is encouraging the use of mobile phones, internet, and computers to expand the outreach of library services and health information. KNLS installed 10 new computers in each of the two libraries, and purchased books, CDs and videos to supplement the e-health resources.

Librarians and health workers in both locations were trained in using information and communication technology (ICT) and how to research and use digital health information. They in turn trained health workers, students, and members of the public to use the e-health corners to access online health resources. A workshop was held to increase the librarians' and health workers' computer skills and online research skills, as well as introduce them to online resources and databases, for example, the international health information support centre, Source, which is a source of free downloadable information and learning.

The training was intended to both build capacity of the two sectors, as well as create relationships between the two, so that each would view the other as both a source and disseminator of information. The two libraries also host lectures for the general public on health topics, including HIV/AIDS, personal hygiene, malaria, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, and other topics. Lecturers use the resources in the e-health corners to prepare their presentations.

The project attracted the attention of a local radio station in Eldoret, which interviewed a librarian and is now encouraging all health workers to use the new library e-health information centres and lecturers to use the resources in the e-health corners to prepare for their presentations.

Health, Technology

According to KNLS, the high cost of healthcare, coupled with high levels of poverty and inadequate healthcare infrastructure, has led many people to seek information from libraries. However, the libraries have not been equipped to handle these requests.

KNLS conducted a survey of health workers who used the e-health corners and results showed that over 95% had successfully found the resources they were looking for. Moreover the KNSL identified two main communities that needed the service. Kisumu district has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Kenya, and because it is located on the banks of Lake Victoria, struggles with malaria. Eldoret, in the Great Rift Valley has significant levels of tropical diseases.

The library in Kisumu serves a poor urban population of 535,571, in a district with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country plus an overstretched health system. The area is low level marshland that is waterlogged and people are prone to malaria and waterborne diseases. In Eldoret, the library serves 682,342 people in a dense agricultural area with many tropical diseases. The district has only two hospitals and the ratio of doctor to patient is one to ten thousand. According to KNLS, the two branch libraries are now recognised as significant health information providers. KNLS is seeking further funding to extend the e-health corners to other branch libraries. A key partner, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, supports the e-health corners with resources and by organising lectures.