Gladys Muhunyo, Director of Africa Programme, Computer Aid International speaking at Open Access Africa 2010

1. www.computeraid.org 1
Computer Aid International
Enhancing Access to Information
Technology in Africa
Gladys Muhunyo
Director of Africa Programmes

2. www.computeraid.org 2
 Founded in 1998; Mission to Bridge the Digital DivideFounded in 1998; Mission to Bridge the Digital Divide
 Registered UK charity (no. 1069256) and companyRegistered UK charity (no. 1069256) and company
limited by guarantee (no.3442679limited by guarantee (no.3442679 ).).
 Most experienced and world largest not for profitMost experienced and world largest not for profit
distributor of refurbished PCs to Educationaldistributor of refurbished PCs to Educational
Institutions, CBOs and NGOs in developing countriesInstitutions, CBOs and NGOs in developing countries
 Over 170,000 Professional refurbished PCs to moreOver 170,000 Professional refurbished PCs to more
than 100 different countries 70% to Africa.than 100 different countries 70% to Africa.
 We have knowledge, expertise and professionalism inWe have knowledge, expertise and professionalism in
the ICT development field, Africa regional office -the ICT development field, Africa regional office -
Kenya serving West, Central, East and SouthernKenya serving West, Central, East and Southern
Africa.Africa.
Computer AidComputer Aid
InternationalInternational

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Enhancing Access
➲ Hardware : Affordability, Local Distribution
points, Partnerships
➲ Software – Development of Software with UK
developers for a free and open source solution.
➲ Awareness : Local, Regional and International
Conference Presentations of need for e-Health,
eLearning, eWaste, e-Inclusion.
➲ Future Support : Research and Development
Reducing Poverty through Practical ICT
Solutions

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36 African Countries – Providing Refurbished PCs;
Laptops, Wireless equipment, Networking Solutions

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Alternative
Technologies
including
Mesh
Networks in
Rural Settings
through
Research and
Development
Support
MACHA –
Zambia
Largest Mesh
Network in
Africa
Covering
www.machaw
orks.org

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 Chief Chicanta
700KMs of
Lusaka has
access to Malaria
Research
Institute,
Hospital, 4
Schools,
Community
Radio station for
Information
 No Electricity,
Plenty of
Sunshine
 100% Funding
 Local
Sustainability on
Pay per use

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Collaborative Skills in Technical Support and
Maintenance with Local Partners

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Low power PCs in standalone or solar container
providing access for all

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Education and Employment
for the blind & visually impaired
Computer Aid is working with the Kenya Union of the Blind to provide blind and visually impaired users
with PCs and assistive technology software. The assistive technology produces synthesised speech output
of the screen’s contents for blind users or magnifies the screen for visually impaired users.

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Computers improve Food Security
 Computer Aid has provided
weather stations in Kenya, Uganda
and Zambia with PCs, which are
used to analyse weather data.
 Previously data was only available
in paper form and took months to
analyse. Now, stations can
immediately analyse locally and
provide accurate information to
those who urgently need it.
 The data has been used to improve
crop and livestock productivity by
determining the best strain for the
climatic conditions.
 Many scientific researcher require
climatic data for various analysis.

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Telemedicine provides a breakthrough in
rural healthcare
 Many rural hospitals in Africa do
not have the expertise to treat
complicated cases due to staff
shortages and limited staff
experience.
 Computer Aid is providing PCs,
digital cameras, scanners and
printers to rural hospitals in Kenya,
Uganda and Tanzania through
AMREF Outreach program.
 The technology enables doctors and
nurses in these hospitals to get
expert advice from medical
specialists in Nairobi.
 Staff in the rural hospital take
photos of the injury or illness and
them email them, along with the
case notes, to the medical staff in
Nairobi.
 "Telemedicine is a very major step
for us and a breakthrough in
helping us deliver better health
care," says Dr Johnson Musomi,
Outreach Manager at AMREF, which
is working with Computer Aid on
the project.

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Enables the most experienced and highly-trained clinicians to provide (potentially life-
saving) instant diagnostic expertise to inexperienced rural health practitioners

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e-Learning
Computer Aid has provided PCs for a national e-learning project that is
retraining all of Kenya’s 26,000 state enrolled nurses in a project with AMREF,
with funding from Accenture

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Tackling marginalisation through e-learning
 Computer Aid has so-far provided PCs to Kenyatta University for its e-learning centres across Kenya. By
enabling women head of households, adult learners and rural students to access university education
remotely no one is doing more to foster social inclusion.
 E-learning enables disadvantaged students to access further education. “Most e-learning students are
marginalised – they could not afford to leave their jobs and stay in Nairobi for three years,” says
Professor Frederick Gravenir.
 “It is difficult to send course materials to rural areas. With e-learning students can access materials
immediately from anywhere," says Professor Olive Mugenda, Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University.

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The Challenge
 Selection of Appropriate ICT in
Developmental projects – Including
Research programs
 Access to Local support ICT
programs
 Technical Maintenance of Internal ICT
systems
 Awareness of Social Media solutions
for development Sectors
 Cost of connectivity
 Management of Ewaste

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Conclusion
Serving to accelerate and achieve sustainable
development of quality ICT Solutions
 Research and Development
 Information Dissemination through Social
Media and Open Access
 Past experiences, lessons learned and best
practices
 Immediacy in Access – USE NOW
 Affordability and Sustainability

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Thank You!
Website: www.computeraid.org
Email: gladys@computeraid.org
+254(0) 20 2230827/8
+254(0)722 707140