mHero: COVID-19

Strengthening National Health Workforce Communication for COVID-19 Response

IntraHealth International and UNICEF created mHero in August 2014 to support health-sector communication during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia.

mHero is a two-way, mobile phone-based communication system that connects ministries of health and health workers. It uses data from existing local health information systems to deliver messages via locally popular communication channels. It reduces the barriers that can exist between health workers and their support systems, playing a critical role in ensuring effective and efficient responses, particularly in a crisis.

Health officials can use mHero to:

• Communicate both routine and urgent messages to health workers. 
• Target messages to health workers based on cadre, location, or skill set. 
• Collect critical information that powers resilient health systems, including stock levels, routine and one-time assessments, and validation of health worker and facility data.
• Build capacity and provide support to health workers, to give them the information, skills, and encouragement to deliver quality health services.

mHero has been used for COVID-19 response. For example, today Liberia’s Ministy of Health is using mHero as a surveillance and response platform for a range of diseases, conditions, and events. The government has adapted mHero to surveil for potential COVID-19 cases and send COVID-19 messages to health workers as part of the country’s response to the epidemic. This long-term usage and quick adaptation of an existing digital health solution is a prime example of why government ownership of digital health systems is critical for epidemic disease response.

This tool is part of Digital Square's Global Goods. Click here to learn more about Digital Square's Global Goods.