CDC Meeting 20100525

From Map Kibera

Beatrice, Maurice, and Kennedy from CDC and Mikel and Primoz from Map Kibera [1] met this morning to discuss our data collection methodologies and purposes, and data sharing between the projects. Below is a summary of what we discussed. We agreed to come back in the next week or two to take next steps.

We agreed in principle that non-private data was possible to share. CDC has extensive data collected in Gatwekera and Soweto, including points of interest (water points, chemists, herbalists, etc), paths, structure outlines, and structure numbering scheme. That data started from satellite imagery digitization, and now is supplemented by hand drawn coorections. Map Kibera has similar data, points of interest, paths, and soon structure outlines, in the same area, but also in other villages of Kibera. This includes Kisumu Ndogo and Raila, where CDC is planning to undertake other studies. These two data sets would be valuable to share, as they provide a means of verification, as well as an opportunity to merge into more complete and accurate data sets. Maurice is presently working to integrate newly collected data from the CDC over the next week or two. Once that work has been completed, we will come back, online or in person, to discuss data sharing.

Map Kibera data is currently available for download at [2]. Note, this does not represent the fullest depth of the data we've collected, but can be a starting point for discussion. We are able to transform our data into various formats, as needed.

Following data sharing, there are a number of threads to pick up: reporting systems, further mapping with Map Kibera, and different kinds of data sharing.

We are developing reporting systems, like Voice of Kibera [3], which utilizes a short code, and other private reporting and tracking systems; for example, systems to track help coordinate GBV support groups. Possible applications could be in real time tracking of choleral outbreaks; this needs proper protocol. A question in this, and other engagements, is privacy, and we are all well aware of the need to ethically protect personal information.

CDC will have ongoing needs to collect geographic information, and has a network of community workers who help monitor cases and report information. Map Kibera is on its way to provide mapping and training services. We are interested to find an opportunity to define how CDC, and others, can engage Map Kibera, and what kinds of compensation would be required to make Map Kibera sustainable.

Map Kibera is also interested in collecting and making available other kinds of data, like organization directories, catalogs of reports and studies. CDC publishes studies in peer reviewed journals, after ethical review; possible to build catalogs of these and other reports. We'd be interested to engage with CDC on defining how these systems operate. Beatrice informed us that there is a level of data sharing already through the Langata Stakeholders Forum, coordinated by the Ministry of Health. They have data formats for many kinds of data, and health entities in Kibera are obliged to report, but not many are as possible. The Forum also provides an opportunity to report who is doing what. Beatrice will inform us next time the Forum meets, giving us an opportunity to present our work, and learn more.

We learned that CDC's active population estimate for Gatwekera and Soweto West is 28,000, putting the total population of Kibera much lower than other estimates!