Lessons on Implementation and Sustainability of M-Health Solutions in South Africa: The Case of Momconnect Project in South Africa

Abstract

The Momconnect project was launched in 2014 by its champion, the minister of health, Hon. Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi. The system is an m-health application targeted at maternal health patients in South Africa. Execution of the project was carried out by a consortium headed by the National Department of Health. Project execution began in 2012, and the launch was two years later in 2014. In this research, a health systems framework for evaluation of implementations of m-health systems in developing countries was used to review the system. The sources of data for the study were face-to-face interviews of the Momconnect Task Team, Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health, and a sample of health care providers and consumers from the health facility level in Johannesburg Metro City. These interviews were supplemented by a document review. The findings of the study are reported according to the four headings of the study framework.