MyChild Card
Shifo
A health card that uses a scanner to store records in a digital database.

Uganda, Afghanistan, Gambia
For the first five years of implementation, MyChild Card costs 2-3 Euro (~2-3.50 USD)/yr/child. After the first five years, the cost for operations is 10 cents/yr/child.Interview with representative
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Health workers, parents
The MyChild Card is printed at local printing companies in the countries using the system.Interview with representative
Private LicenseInterview with representative
The product is based on Smart Paper Technology.
Contact Shifo to learn about how to implement the MyChild system.
Shifo provides implementation support for MyChild Card for five years after launch.Interview with representative Costs associated with equipment, adjusting the reporting of the system, and capacity building during the initial stages of implementation are entirely or partially donor-funded. Shifo has partnered with governments and strong local NGOs working on the ground in the countries using MyChild Card.Interview with representative
Real-time information on the number of children registered and followed up with using MyChild is available on the Shifo website.
Connectivity requirement for the product/service to work (mobile internet, SMS, voice, fixed internet, Wi-Fi, other [specify]).
Coverage required for the product/service to work (2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, broadband, dial-up, other [specify]).
Device features required for the product/service to work (bluetooth, Wi-Fi, camera, IVR, GPS, accelerometers/motion sensors, physiologic biosensors, biometric identifiers, SIM, memory card (e.g microSD), other [specify]).
Device(s) type required for the product/service to work (smartphone, feature phone, computer, tablet, other [specify]).
Connectivity requirement for the product/service to work. Some apps/services can work offline. If no, specify if network connectivity is needed at any point (e.g connectivity needed for download).
Is the product/service able to receive and send back information to the user?
Rates of user vs downloads/subscriptions – Compliance rate for the eHealth service
Support according to the literacy level required from the user. If yes, specify type of literacy support. If no, the user is intended to be literate.
Operating system required and software version (Android, IOs, Windows, other [specify])
Power supply required for the product/service to work (uninterrupted prower supply (UPS), ocassional power supply [minimum time required], other).
Education and behavior change, human resource management, decision support, data collection & analytics, electronic medical records, Healthcare provider- CHW training, telemedicine/remote diagnostic, stock management, disease surveillance and reporting
The MyChild Card is a health card based on Smart Paper TechnologyTM that allows written information to be scanned and uploaded onto a secure server by health workers for digitation. The MyChild Card is kept with the parents or guardians and allows follow up on vaccination status, nutritional status, growth and development from birth to five years of age.
Each card possesses a unique identifier which is assigned to each newborn child. Experts note that although the child is referred to by a unique ID, there is still sensitive information (e.g HIV status) that is recorded and therefore the data needs to be well secured in order to avoid any possible re-identification risk of a child from anonymous information.The card consists of three sections: educational information for parents, registration forms for nurses to record preventative health service information (dates of vaccinations, weight, etc.), and slips that can be scanned in order to digitize the information. The slips are brought to scanning stations based at district hospitals and district health offices where slips are scanned thus updating the electronic health record for each child. Over 100 indicators are generated using the digitized information which can be sent to key regional and country stakeholders as a report via PDF, email, web, or existing health management information systems (e.g. DHIS2).
Because the product can be paper-based for certain settings, there is risk for it to be lost. This problem could potentially be addressed if those that periodically fetch the new cards to be scanned can return with a (password protected or encrypted) copy of the records to update the offline database in the clinic.
The electronic medical history enables parents/guardians to receive SMS reminders and individual follow-up on a child’s vaccination schedule. Internet connectivity is required at the health facility for registration and follow-up. Storage and synchronisation of patient data and statistics is done with a cloud server that is provided to the health centers by Shifo.
Not available
A representative from Shifo is sent to regions new to MyChild to help facilitate implementation during the beginning months. Shifo provides implementation support for the first five years. Continuous local technical support is required to maintain the MyChild system. Training is provided for healthcare personnel to increase computer literacy.
In order to contact them write an email by using the bottom part of the mail website.
The laptops and scanners for the system are purchased in the implementing country and can be replaced as needed.Interview with representative
The MyChild Card can be used by a parent or guardian for their child from birth to five years of age. Canon scanners, which is the typical scanner brand that is used for the system, have a lifetime of 7-10 years.Interview with representative
The manufacturer aims to increase the efficiency of birth registration and health service provision.
MyChild was found to increase the efficiency of registering children and providing health services at health centers by 119%. MyChild was also found to reduce the time spent on reporting and administration tasks at the health center level from 50-60% to 10% per day, which translates to the equivalent of one extra employee at each health facility.
N/A
Vaccines, vaccine storage
Usman, H.R., et al., 2011, Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Childhood Immunization Adherence in Rural Pakistan: Redesigned Immunization Card and Maternal Education, Trop Med Int Health, 16(3), pp. 334–342.
Chowdhury, M., Asim, S. and Sahlen, K. G., 2018, Questing the Mychild Solution in Afghanistan. An External Evaluation of Data Quality, Operational cost and Efficiency, Report, University of Umea, Sweden.
Sowe, A., Putilala, O. and Sahlen, K.G., 2018, Assessment of MyChild Solution in The Gambia: Data Quality, Administrative Time Efficiency, Operation Costs, and User’s Experiences and Perceptions, Report, University of Umea, Sweden.
MyChild Card adheres to API standards so that the product can be connected to different statistic systems. Shifo created a plug in to directly integrate MyChild Card with DHIS2.Interview with representative
Evaluation was carried out in two phases: field tests and proof of concept, to test for data quality, efficiency and operational cost. Both of them took place in Uganda.
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