The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Keneya-Blown - Mali

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This pilot telemedicine project seeks to provide an online network for all hospitals and health districts in Mali. Although physicians are currently the sole users of the site, other health care workers are invited to consult the site and to contribute content.
Communication Strategies

The network is centred at the French-language-only Keneya-Blown site. Five hospitals are curently networked - three in Bamako, one in Segou, and one in Timbouctou. The technology that links the hospitals is TCP/IP; a future possibility is to introduce a Virtual Private Network (VPN).


The site invites users to search for information in categories such as the following: pharmacies, traditional medicine, current medical events, travel and health, public health, HIV/AIDS, telemedicine, tropical medicine, and first aid. The network also provides information about lectures that are conducted using teleconferencing technology by physicians at the University of Geneva and various Mali hospitals. Examples include:

  • Antiretroviral treatment (conducted by an HIV/AIDS specialist)
  • Exploration of the arteriovenous ducts at the insufficient kidney
  • Two dermatological aspects of HIV/AIDS
  • Conference led by the regional obstetrics/gynaecology team in Bamako
  • The environment and health: the role of the librarian in the diffusion of information in Bamako


A device for the diffusion of an online course is in the process of being installed.

Development Issues

Technology, Health.

Key Points

The first phase of the programme addressed network architecture and content and services range from electronic mail to medical references, transfer of medical data, research, teleconferencing, and training.

Partners

Faculty of Medicine, University of Mali; University of Geneva.