SATELLIFE's mission is to improve health in the world's poorest nations through the innovative use of information technology. We support health practitioners and policy makers with information for decision making, SATELLIFE has created HealthNet, a global information and communication network that provides knowledge resources on today's most urgent health topics, affordable email, computer literacy training, and opportunities for dialogue and information exchange among health workers throughout the world.

"SATELLIFE" hand-held computer project wins the Stockholm Challenge Award "SATELLIFE Health Information Project" from the United States was one of the two winning projects the 2002 Stockholm Challenge Award in the "Health" category. SATELLIFE received the prize at an award ceremony at the Blue Hall in Stockholm City Hall, venue of the Nobel Banquet. Nineteen projects were selected finalists in the category. "SATELLIFE Health Information Project" was presented the Stockholm Challenge trophy that symbolizes technological progress in harmony with nature and the environment. SATELLIFE uses multiple technologies - from satellites to modems - to connect health professionals to critical information in under-resourced areas. In rural Africa, manual health surveys are expensive, inadequate, inaccurate and slow. The project uses PDAs to collect timely public health data, return it to policy-makers and explore appropriate affordable technology for the environment. In a Ghanaian trial programme, 30 volunteers trained on the PDAs and completed over 2,400 surveys within five days. The data were analysed and the report delivered in six days instead of the usual four to six months. "Immunization campaigns and other public health efforts are now demonstrated to be possible, thanks to the project's effort. This exemplary project illustrates the best ideals to be found in American society, in the Global community and in the City of Stockholm,"says Professor Alfonso Molina, Chairman of the Stockholm Challenge Jury. In total, 8 winners in 6 categories were awarded by the Mayor of Stockholm, Mr. Carl Cederschiöld, in the Stockholm City Hall, host of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. This year, nearly 600 IT projects from 78 different countries throughout the world joined the Stockholm Challenge Award. 101 projects were selected for the Final Events, including not only an elegant awards ceremony, but also a conference and networking activities where participants shared ideas, created new partnerships, and showcased their work to the public. The Stockholm Challenge Award focuses on the positive effects of the "information society" as it attempts to bridge what is often termed the Digital Divide. The 28-member international jury seeks examples of information technology's effecting a significant impact on people's lives. The Stockholm Challenge Award is a non-profit initiative of the City of Stockholm. Participating projects may be private, public, or academic.

SATELLIFE's PDA Project a Digital Partners' Social Enterprise Laboratory Finalist A Process to Support a New Generation of ICT-Empowered Social Entrepreneurs and Innovative Non-governmental Organizations Serving "Markets" at the Bottom of the Economic Pyramid Digital Partners recognized early on the great potential that new information and communication technologies have to shape emerging economies and serve markets for the benefit of the poor. To activate this tremendous potential, Digital Partners developed The Social Enterprise Laboratory (SEL) to support those whose vision and business models seek to use ICT to empower the poor and their underserved communities. We are very pleased to announce that SATELLIFE's PDA Project has been selected by our international team of judges to become a Digital Partners Social Enterprise Award Finalist for 2002-2003. As a finalist, SATELLIFE will be matched with a team of professionals from selected graduate schools and industry who will help them turn their proposal into a sustainable, fundable business model and plan. Project Name: PDAs and Better Health in Uganda Organization Name: SATELLIFE Location: Uganda Description: HealthNet Uganda will promote the use of PDAs to improve decision-making by health professionals. In a country where many health workers do not have access to a telephone, let alone the Internet, information for decision-making is a scarce, potentially life-saving resource. Building on its experience implementing a PDA project in Uganda and Kenya, HealthNet Uganda is poised to introduce this technology on a wider scale. PDAs can be used in the most remote locations, have the computing power required for simple but essential functions, are easily customizable to meet the particular needs of individuals and institutions, and can hold large quantities of timely, relevant, and appropriate content and facilitate rapid data collection and analysis. SATELLIFE and HealthNet Uganda have a competitive advantage in the introduction of PDAs because of their understanding of health professionals' real data and information needs and their ability to work with the government, university, NGOs, and private practitioners. In addition to project design, technical support and training, SATELLIFE provides a powerful combination of content, including country-specific clinical guidelines for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organization Essential Drug List, a country-specific essential drug list, a multi-functional medical calculator, medical references, customized local content, and customized survey instruments. The project partners hope that this activity will not only improve HealthNet Uganda's potential for sustainability, but also stimulate the PDA market for the private sector. HealthNet Uganda seeks help making the transition to a sustainable enterprise that weds its humanitarian mission with sound business practices and may include development of a business plan.

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