South Africa: TEARS Foundation

Medi-App is an African first innovative tool that allows medical professionals to electronically record and track suspected abuse of children under 12 years. Using Medi-App, medical professionals are able to track if multiple entries have been made for a single individual, pull up other electronic reports, and utilise this information in order to facilitate reporting suspected abuse and violence.

This problem is emphasized when children who are sexually or violently abused are taken to different facilities to intentionally avoid detection. Estimated statistics shows that 88% of child abuse goes unreported. The innovation promotes regular use of real-time data, making it easy to capture and understand whilst creating a greater awareness of the rate of child maltreatment and Gender-Based Violence.

The overall driving objective is to provide a “tool” / technological solution that will be used by medical professionals, to fight the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and abuse, through making information available to those who are allowed to see it and readily providing reporting capabilities to enhance the capacity of the medical professionals.

In order to achieve this, we have embarked on these trials so we can: Adapt to a user-friendly software and then strategize with users to further develop Medi-App for future implementation. Creating a community of experts in the Health Sector who will continue to work on preventing violence before it happens in the first place and ultimately moving toward a safer and vibrant communities for all.

The main activities are:

• Needs Analysis was conducted in 2013/14 with different NGO’s and medical professionals.
• Medi-App has successfully completed its Proof of Concept during 2015.
• 6 Clinicians participated – working with a trial base of u/12’s.
• 156 Children’s names were entered into the Medi-App (concern around abuse, confirmed abuse or a level of suspicion by the medical professional).
• Within these numbers, cases were made at police stations that have been taken further.

The project has benefited about 61 232 women with 20 000 active groups. The project reaches 10 488 indirect beneficiaries. The In kind contributions amounted to $ 14 841. The total budget for the project is $14 841.

This project has developed strong monitoring and evaluation methods. Different assessment processes and tools has been developed and implemented to identify and monitor relevant metrics. Real-time data collected is reliable and support abuse and GBV decision-making and the design of abuse and GBV initiatives. Real and measurable improvements in terms of how medical facilities collects data and reports suspected abuse. Enhanced medical professional’s understanding of the importance of reporting and collaboration. Strengthened the ability of the health care sector to prevent abuse and gender-based violence.

Our current most prominent challenge is the lack of funding for the vital 2017 Trial. We are hoping to secure funding for the 2017 Trial as Medi-App will become a licensed product to be purchased i.e. Microsoft license enabling this product to become self-sustainable.  Buy-in from the participating medical professionals. We engage with the medical professionals on the ground regularly, encouraging and educating them on the system, the effectiveness thereof and provide constant feedback. Difficulties around lack of prioritization by Government are constraining the implementation.

Medical professionals have experienced first-hand the opportunity they have to save the lives of children, stopping the abuse before it becomes a problem that they have to deal with receiving counselling as an adult.

“We are putting the children ahead of everything else, they do not have a voice to say what is wrong. They only say what they “must” say not to get another hiding. Using Medi-app, we can now make sure that we become the voice of the child, without getting them further into “trouble” – Annah Mabunda – DOH Administrator.

“The male medical practitioners are all for this app, they see it as a way to assist their small patients to live healthier lives” – Drik Meerkotter – CEO TMTT.

As the initial proof of concept was only in 4 facilities over a 8 week period, the information is not substantial enough to draw conclusions. During the next trial, we will have 6 months, 12 facilities and 16 medical professionals taking part. The data collected from this will be used to clarify any future correspondence in this area.

Medical professionals saw the impact the service had in just 8 weeks. They are excited to start the next one and hope that it will be implemented on permanent bases. Once implementation starts, Medi-app will make use of a licensing model, similar to Microsoft software licenses. This will ensure the sustainability of the project.

The key aspect of this is that the project is that is evidence-based and replicates effective programs and framework wherein we have developed a systematic and effective strategy. developing systematic and effective strategies Implementing is not costly and revolves around the “buy” in from the participants which is one of our key strengths. Furthermore, all participants at present actively support this program hence our word-of-mouth endorsements are a vital role in the implementation.

The replication of the product will only take place once it’s completely rolled-out into the whole of South Africa.