Good day Claire
Following on your concern about how tracking commodities through mobile phones might lead to information being lost - l would like to share how the mobile platforms were used and fed into the formal system to track COVID 19 pandemic commodities.
During the peak of the COVlD 19 pandemic, it was critical to track availability of Personal Protective Equipment at all health facilities.These updates were required weekly but the traditional stock tracking system used a monthly and quartely system.ln order to ensure timeliness of reporting-google forms were created and those with smart phones used these to send information on stock status.This information was then consolidated to give a weekly update.
This system, in my opinion, "formalised" the use of mobile phones to track stocks and allowed for timely reporting that informed procurement and logistics strategies in the emergency situation.
Regards,
Venus Mushininga
HIFA profile: Venus Mushininga is a pharmacist with the Ministry of Health and Childcare in Zimbabwe. She is a founder and President of the Zimbabwe Society of Oncology Pharmacy and the Zimbabewan delegate to the European Society of Oncology Pharmacy. Professional interests: Oncology, Dissemination of information through to Health Professionals and the public, Research. She is co-coordinator of the HIFA working group on information for Prescribers and Users of Medicines.
Email: vmushininga@gmail.com
http://www.hifa.org/projects/prescribers-and-users-medicines
http://www.hifa.org/support/members/venus
Email: vmushininga AT gmail.com
