University of Kuopio
UKu | Computing Centre | HIS R&D | INDEHELA 		4 October 2003
Mikko Korpela

The INDEHELA-Methods project, 1998-2001

INDEHELA-Methods was a Finnish-Nigerian research project on Methods for Informatics Development for Health in Africa, funded by the Academy of Finland in 1998-99 and 2000-01. The project was part of the INDEHELA programme that continued as the INDEHELA-Context project in 2003. INDEHELA-Methods took place in parallel with the software development project MINPHIS developing the Made in Nigeria Primary-care and Hospital Information System.

Objectives:

  1. Create understanding of the practice and problems of software industry in Nigeria.
  2. Create systems development methods adjusted to Nigerian requirements and constraints.
  3. Produce an information system for Nigerian hospitals and health centres in a "host project".
  4. Strengthen the Nigerian partner as the most important Health Informatics Research & Development centre in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa.
  5. Establish Information Technology in Developing Countries as a discipline in Finland.

The project was based on the ten-years' research collaboration in Health Informatics by the Finnish and Nigerian sites. Theoretically the research was based on Activity Analysis and Development (ActAD). Methodologically the study was a combination of a survey, in-depth case studies in software companies, and action research in a "host project" (MINPHIS). The Finnish and Nigerian research teams worked in collaboration on their specific topics.

The project produced empirical research information about software industry and systems development practice which was not available from Africa before. The practical results on information systems development methods are compiled into Lecture Notes on Information Systems Development for Health in Africa and used in undergraduate and continuing education in Nigeria and Finland in the INDEHELA-Context project.

Official documents: