About REALID

Who We Are.

The REALID Mobile App is a Health initiative which aims to support maternal health through the use of cell phone based technologies integrated into maternal and child health services. The services are free to the user and messages are available in all our 4 major languages (Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and English). The REALID Mobile App is voluntary and the pregnant woman can opt out at any time.

The overall objectives of this initiative are:

• To introduce a mechanism for registering electronically all pregnancies in the public health system as early as possible.
• To send targeted health promotional messages to pregnant women to improve their health and that of their infants,
• To provide pregnant women with an interactive mechanism to give feedback on the service they have received.

REALID works with others under the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy (IMNCH) umbrella to develop and implement a coordinated behavior change communication strategy to promote simple essential newborn care practices at community level through women’s groups, religious organizations and other community mobilization structures.

How It Works.

Typically, a woman registers for The REALID Mobile App during a visit to a healthcare clinic. “When a pregnant woman goes for her first antenatal care visit,” George explains, “a nurse confirms her expected delivery date and tells her about The REALID Mobile App and how to download the Software on the ANDROID Mobile phone. If the woman wants to sign up, the nurse assists her in registration.”

Each week, users receive two messages tailored to the stage of their pregnancy or their child’s age. This continues throughout their pregnancy and until their child turns one. The messages, which are available in all our 4 major languages (Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and English), give tips for having a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby, as well as information on broader health topics related to women’s and children’s health.

When an expecting mother registers for The REALID Mobile App at a clinic, she is invited to take a survey to rate her experience. The survey aligns with the WHO/USAID/UNICEF Core Standards for Health and asks users to rate cleanliness, friendliness, professionalism, perceived waiting time, and actual waiting time at the clinic. The REALID Mobile App transfers service ratings to the District Health Information System and records the woman’s pregnancy in the National Pregnancy Register.

Women also can use FAQ and helpline features to anonymously ask questions and provide comments about their healthcare experiences. “There’s been quite a bit of interaction with women using The REALID Mobile App,” George says. “While Nigerian telemedicine laws don’t allow diagnoses to be made over the phone, the Department of Health can respond to questions and offer referrals.”

Every month, The REALID Mobile App sends user feedback to local health administrators who use it to detect problems and improve services at healthcare facilities. For example, when The REALID Mobile App users reported that iron tablets were widely out of stock in a northern province, members of the local department of health met with clinic staff to review ordering procedures.

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