Satellite Technology Launches to Strengthen Information Systems in Ifanadiana District

01 Jun Satellite Technology Launches to Strengthen Information Systems in Ifanadiana District

Posted at 13:55h in Blog by

by Antenaina Rafetrason (Manager of Communications) and Mariot Rasolonjatovoarinoro (Manager of Information Systems and Mobile Technology)

 

One of the major challenges with data sharing across Pivot-supported sites is the poor network coverage in most rural areas in Ifanadiana District. Having a reliable connection at all health facilities is essential to ensure the transmission of information to both the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and Pivot, which in turn supports decision-making. 

After two years of evaluation and development, a partnership agreement between the MOPH, Pivot, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Transformation, Posts & Telecommunications (MNDPT) has been signed to implement satellite technology in Ifanadiana District. The Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) initiative is a collaboration between the MNDPT, the MOPH, and Pivot’s Information Systems and Mobile Technologies (SITM) program to strengthen health information systems in Ifanadiana District. 

VSAT technology designates a two-way satellite communication technique that uses directional antennas on the ground and aims at a geostationary satellite. Given geographical challenges and a lack of infrastructure to support the large-scale extension of network coverage, the VSAT system topped the list of the alternatives explored by the SITM team due to its ability to provide network coverage and a fixed, reliable Internet connection. The initiative will facilitate the digitization of health workers’ data collection, reporting, and feedback processes.

Taking Inventory of District Network Quality

The preliminary stage of the VSAT initiative began in March 2020 when the Pivot team, accompanied by the District Health Department, took inventory of network coverage at the district’s public health centers in order to assess the actual quality of mobile services in the field. Results of the study showed that 47% of the health centers have a reliable network signal, but only 4 out of the 20 CSBs assessed have a high internet speed and, even in these cases, several of the closest network points are more than 2 kilometers from the health centers, with an altitude of 500 meters.

These results suggested that, in areas where the wired network is poorly developed (as in the case of most of Ifanadiana District), a system like VSAT would provide a sound solution, with geographical position no longer a factor in information accessibility. 

Signing the Partnership Agreement

In order to officialize the collaboration between Pivot, the MNDPT and the MOPH, Pivot had the honor of welcoming the Minister of Telecommunications to Ranomafana in February 2022, along with representatives of the Vatovavy Regional Health Directorate and the Ifanadiana District Health Department Service to Ranomafana, for the signing of the partnership agreement (pictured below). The event marks the beginning of a new partnership between the institutions for the realization of the VSAT initiative.

According to Mariot Rasolonjatovoarinoro, the head of Pivot’s SITM program, the Minister of Telecommunications “made it clear that Pivot is the first organization to have initiated this kind of project in the field of health in Madagascar. We are proud to be able to support the Malagasy government with the implementation of this technology.”

Pivot’s primary responsibilities in the realization of this project are to manage the procurement and stock of all necessary equipment and supplies, to ensure that all infrastructure meets the needs outlined by the project, cover the remuneration of all actors linked to the implementation of the project, and to provide training to users of the technology.

Launching Project Implementation

In March 2022, the SITM team met with the mayors and local authorities from the three pilot sites to inform them about the project implementation process in their respective communes, and to engage them in the preservation of equipment and materials. The session was also an opportunity for local leaders to understand how they too would be able to leverage the new technology when necessary.

In May 2022, representatives of the MNDPT, the MOPH (in particular from the Department of Health Monitoring, the Department of Epidemiological Surveillance & Response, and the Department of Studies, Planning & Information Systems), and from the Blueline Madagascar (the country’s leading company in the supply of telecommunication services and solutions) traveled to Ambohimanga du Sud with the Pivot team to test the new technology (pictured below). This test, designed to evaluate the implementation of the VSAT technology, was carried out with the aim of identifying possible constraints relating to atmospheric conditions and the rugged geographical location of the district. The teams tested the existing power supply equipment (battery, converter, and regulator) in order to assess whether the energy supplied is sufficient to operate the VSAT equipment. They also conducted functional tests of internet connectivity, particularly in relation to data flow. Despite some bad weather, the field test obtained a strong enough result to support the continuity of the project’s implementation.

As of June 2022, the project is in its pilot phase, in which the VSAT technology is being introduced at three Pivot-supported sites: the health centers of Androrangavola, Ambohimanga du Sud, and Fasintsara communes. These facilities were chosen due to the fact that they serve as referral centers for the South, North, and Extreme North axes of the district, respectively, which means that their service capacity exceeds standard MOPH norms, and their technological demands are greater than that of the district’s other health centers.

Looking Ahead

The direct, short-term beneficiaries of this project are the health personnel who work at the various installation sites, but the new technology will ultimately benefit the population in the long-run. Local authorities with access to the network are able to use it during emergencies, such in the case of cyclones, which cause significant material damage and disruption to telecommunication networks each season.

As a whole, the VSAT project aligns with Pivot’s philosophy of seeking innovation to improve the public health system in Ifanadiana District. By implementing efficient technologies to optimize information sharing across health actors, this initiative will support the maintenance of high-quality healthcare delivery over the long term.

 

 




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