Hela health authority needs help with IT: Official

By ZARA KANU LEBO
THE Hela Health Authority (PHA) is in need of information technology (IT) equipment to assist in its health awareness programmes.
This will go to the current health awareness, training, research and for seeking assistance from donor partners to support the hospital’s ongoing programmes.
Family Services Centre unit manager Sister Clare Lembo said, “The PHA is a big organisation and the information and communication technology (ICT) team are aware of the IT issues the PHA are currently facing. “The main focus here are the ICT issues faced when integrating health programmes in the province and for storage purposes also.
“We have so many health issues in terms of mental health, cancer and viral diseases that are hidden and neglected in the communities, homes and workplaces because of stigma and discrimination.
“Having an established ICT system will help us to reach out and disseminate information to the unreached population, reporting and for information storage.”
The hospital administration had organised a mental health training last week which drew attention for the need to have communication tools for disseminating information as part of awareness to the local communities.
Materials that were listed were: printer and computers, camera, pamphlets and posters, internet access, phone templates and other stationery material to aid in awareness programmes.
“During the integration of mental health programmes in communities and the healthcare system, mental health issues have been identified as one of the root causes of social issues like tribal fighting, increased sexual and gender-based violence, sorcery accusation-related violence, drug and alcohol abuse in the province,” she said.
“The training on mental health was new to most of the staff that attended so it was important that information that is taught and discussed has to be recorded and documented for future use.
“What we produce is important because it can also be used as supporting material to secure funding support from donor agencies.”