Kenya to deploy computer tablets in health, education sectors

The government plans to deploy computer tablets to ease operations in the education and health sector as public sector service delivery shifts to mobile internet. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication, Bitange Ndemo has announced a pilot project to incorporate health and education systems in the mobile devices within the next one month. “The transition in computing continues to simplify how technology is being used and absorbed in the country,” said Ndemo. “The government is keen to incorporate the education curriculum on the mobile platform. Tablets will be used for teaching through e-Learning programs,” he said. He said the government had identified a school that will pilot the project.

The government will also develop an integrated health care system that will leverage on the tablet platform. The system will enable doctors exchange information on patients’ analysis and also enable the patient access their reports online. The PS was speaking during the launch of Samsung’s new tablet, the Galaxy Note. The Korean manufacturing giant might be contracted to provide the gadgets. He did not disclose how much the government will invest in this project.

Samsung East Africa Deputy MD, Robert Ngeru said the company was supporting this government initiative and the solutions for health and education. Samsung has developed a solution known as Doctor smart that allows a patients information to be stored on a tablet. The Electronics Medical Records mobile solution enables doctor’s access patients’ records quickly and also gets instant information. “The tabs can be easily carried by the medical staff and used to not update check the previous records but also update the same with prescriptions,” said Ngeru.

This comes as the government rushes to have internet connectivity countrywide so as to implement e-government. Ndemo had earlier announced the government is exploring use of wireless technology to take internet services in the areas furthest geographically that are not covered by the state-owned National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure cable (NOFBI).

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Posted by AfricaSTI on March 12, 2012. Filed under Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry