mTika is an interactive Android-device based immunization optimization software which aims to strengthen the delivery of routine immunizations, increase efficiency of vaccine delivery, promote timely intake, increase coverage and completion of childhood vaccinations. The software establishes a head count based vaccine registry, allows for effective tracking of children’s immunization status, allows for early registration, provides proactive reminders and enables advocacy.

When a mother or child visits a vaccination camp, they are registered first via the mTika app. Using the app, “Vaccination schedules”, an automated report gets generated for any missed appointments, on the basis of which health workers can take targeted interventions. The app also allows frontline Health Workers to send messages to beneficiaries via bulk SMS on camp day for vaccination. Health workers can view which beneficiaries have vaccines due through color coded flags and this results in proactive engagement and increased timely vaccination rate in rural Bangladesh.

So far, mTika has helped in recording the delivery of 46,792 vaccine dose administration captured for 4,837 children in Bangladesh and led to positive impacts in terms of reduction in delays in vaccination processes and greatly increasing vaccination coverage in the intervention areas.

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• Bangladesh

• Remote and rural communities
• Women and Children; Health Workers and their Supervisors

The mTika solution can be easily replicated since the vaccination processes/ workflows in developing countries are mostly similar. In fact, it is already replicated in countries such as Zambia and Pakistan, where mPower has been a development/ implementation partner in various mHealth projects. This process toward digitization is being catalyzed by the increasing effort among developing countries to automate health service delivery both by governments and NGOs.

The adaptation of the application for other countries would be around:

- customizing for the specific vaccination workflows in that particular - country (the workflows are generally the same all over for the most part)
- customization of the application, web dashboards, messages and alerts in local language
- integration with the national health system of that country

Since the mTika system was developed using Bangladesh government health workers, and with formal buy-in by the Ministry of Health serving as the steward of the project, there is great enthusiasm for further scale-up and adoption of the mTika platform within Bangladesh.

Furthermore, the system is aligned with the priorities and goals of the Vision 2020 strategic goals of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) SDG Plan which have a focus on digitization. The project will ensure continuation of its effects since the government entities that we have been working with during pilot phase and are now in the process of scaling up to a wider level and eventually to a national level.

Thus far, the mTika platform has been deployed among frontline health workers (FHWs) in Bangladesh. With the government plan to expand the service nationally, the coverage could be raised potentially to all the 27,000 FHWs in the country. To sustain the mTika solution, we plan to continue our services under a SaaS model whereby we will charge an up-front customization fee from health service providers (governments and NGOs), and then regular recurring subscription fees based on the number of users.

AL C7 ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life: e-Health The mTika solution helps to improve adherence to timely vaccination for the rural population. This in turn ensures the efficacy of the vaccines provided are at its optimum level and the mother and young children are protected from preventable communicable diseases.