Dr. Patrick Albert Chikumba

Dr. Patrick Albert Chikumba

Author

Computing & Information Technology

23 publications

Dr. Patrick Albert Chikumba is a senior lecturer and researcher in Information Systems implementation.

Read more

Geographic information system as a tool for enriching drug logistics information at district level in malawi: challenges on data quality

Conference Proceeding
Published 11 months ago, 280 views
Author
Dr. Patrick Albert Chikumba
Co-authors
Dr. Patrick Albert Chikumba
Abstract
A well-functioning logistics management information system (LMIS) provides decision makers throughout a supply chain with accurate, timely, and appropriate data for managing and monitoring flow of supplies, accounting for products in supply chain, reducing supply imbalances, and improving cost-effectiveness but LMIS, whether manual or automated, seems to be one of the weakest links in the logistics chain in developing countries. District pharmacies in Malawi use a computerised information system to monitor the flow of products from a warehouse to health service delivery points and determine understocked or overstocked products at each health facility. Currently, all drug logistics information reports are in tabular forms. The Geographic Information System (GIS) can help health and drug logistics officers to get additional spatial information, such as locations of health facilities and environmental factors, to the existing reports in the form of maps. This paper discusses some challenges on quality of drug logistics data for decision making with emphasis on place and time utilities. It could be very important to use also maps from the GIS to enrich existing information especially when place and time are concerned since these utilities are very critical in logistics.
Year of Publication
2014
Proceedings Title
e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries: 5th International Conference, AFRICOMM 2013
Page Numbers
209-218
Conference Dates
November 25-27, 2013
Conference Place
Blantyre, Malawi
Top Researchers
“Academic success depends on research and publications.”
---- Philip Zimbardo ----