WP3: Rapid assessment of lymphedema burden using mobile phone based text messages by community health workers.
This task seeks to explore the use of a mobile phone text message (SMS)-based surveillance system by using Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who will identify, record and submit information on LF morbidity and podoconiosis cases at the village level. Knowledge of the geographical distribution of lymphedema, hydrocele and podoconiosis patients is essential to ensure that morbidity management programmes are targeted at the populations that need it most. It is expected that the SMS-based surveillance system will potentially reduce the amount of time required for data entry, allow information to be reviewed in real-time, and most importantly improve the apparent underreporting of morbidity within the current MDA that is targeted more to infection and transmission control. The task will be led by Dr. Linda Batsa Debrah.