Originally conceived as an advocacy tool in support of community-based injury prevention, a project by UNICEF called rCHITS evolved into a computer-based system that targets primarily at serving local community health centers.

rCHITS, which stands for “Real-time Monitoring of Key Maternal and Child Health Indicators through the use of the Community Health Information Tracking System” is a computerization project aimed at achieving a more effective and efficient system of managing health information on children and women, particularly those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“During the last two decades, the world has made huge strides in reducing child deaths through new vaccines, better health care, investments in education and strong commitments from governments, Willibald Zeck, chief of health & nutrition, UNICEF Philippines. “But even though the pace of saving young lives has been rising in both rich and poor countries, some regions, countries and areas within countries, still struggle.”

In 2011, rCHITS expanded through the collaboration of UNICEF, University of the Philippines National Telehealth Cen- ter (NThC) and Globe Telecom, which de- veloped a system specifically designed to monitor and obtain key maternal and child health indicators in selected munici- palities towards the achievement of Mil- lennium Development Goals 4 and 5, which are reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.

“Accessibility whether to improve education or health’s one of our major thrusts and we fully support UNICEF and the National Telehealth Center in their initiatives to improve integrating local health information,” said Roberto Nazal, corporate social responsibility head of Globe TelecomWe hope, through the support of Globe Telecom. “We are able to empower the decision makers of local government units to enjoy on-demand information on health and other relevant programs to reach an informed decision through the rCHITS program. We hope to help bridge disparities in access to health care.”

This computerized data gathering is the country’s first electronic medical record system for government health facilities that will enable health workers throughout the country to produce relevant health information and real-time reports transmitted to involved government agencies - for instance, the Department of Health - and delivered through mobile devices such mobile phones.

“Information and communication technology (ICT) has grown so much that it has become a vital tool in both social participation and governance, said Zeck. “For one, the rapid increase in users of mobile phones and personal computers, even in developing countries, has afforded governments and social planners new opportunities to collect, share, analyse and act on available data.”

Globe donates P1 million
As a corporate social responsibility partner of UNICEF since September 2011, Globe Telecom turned over a check donation amounting to P1 million to the U.N. agency on November 16, at the EDSA Shangrila, as part of its My Rewards My Globe campaign that will allow Globe subscribers to redeem Globe rewards at 50 percent off. The donation will be used by UNICEF to fund its rChits program.

“The funding support will provide more phones and unlimited subscription for SMS and calls to Globe lines for the duration of the project for the permanent health workers, day care workers, and other partners; new hard - and software and capacity building for technical support to enhancement the system in pilot areas to improve monitoring and to ensure that the system is maintained, said Zeck. “Together, through partnership and innovation, we can work towards making preventable mother and child deaths a thing of the past and give each and every mother and child an equal opportunity to survive.”

Although the agency had initially identified the three disadvantaged areas as Sto. Domingo in Albay, Golan in Sarangani, and Gamay in Northern Samar, there are eight additional municipalities, which were not identified yet, that would benefit from the program, while it aims to cover 30 more municipalities in the country, this according to a statement from UNICEF.

“We are happy to partner with UNICEF Philippines in promoting one of their advocacies and supporting it via our My Rewards, My Globe campaign. With rewards now at 50% off, our subscribers can now redeem more rewards for themselves and for their loved ones. For a more rewarding experience, Globe is making a donation to UNICEF Philippines to benefit mothers and newborns, inspiring more subscribers to redeem more rewards because of this worthy cause,’ said Jay Beltran, Globe’s head of customer lifecycle management.