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WiRED International Launches Health Education Learning Portal
BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND KRISTEN GARABEDIAN; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN
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iRED is pleased to announce the start of its newest project, the Health Education Learning Portal (W-HELP). This e-library of medical and health information modules empowers physicians and nurses, patients, community health workers and ordinary people to address the prevention and treatment of both infectious and non-communicable disease in developing areas of the world.
As the Internet has become available to increasing numbers of medical professionals and grassroots communities in the places WiRED serves, the staff created a Web distribution tool that allows open access to this educational material.
With WiRED’s interactive training tools, communities and medical professionals alike can educate themselves through the material released on this new website. This material is also distributed on portable media for communities off the grid. W-HELP presents modules on topics including high blood pressure, diabetes, women’s health, arthritis, HIV/AIDS and cardiology.
W-HELP’s tools are developed by a cadre of physicians, medical editors, imagers and technicians along with other medical experts. The WiRED team continually updates the existing material and routinely creates new modules to meet the needs of audiences in developing regions. The team also translates modules into indigenous languages. In a recent example of the adaptability of W-HELP materials, a module on heart murmurs, developed by WiRED and written for a team of U.S. cardiologists in China, was tailored to meet the needs of doctors in Africa, and soon this module will serve people in other regions.
WiRED Director Gary Selnow, Ph.D., said, “The W-HELP portal will greatly strengthen WiRED’s mission to bring vital and timely health information and education to developing communities all over the world.”
Malaria: Advanced information for healthcare professionals, including causes, prevention, signs and symptoms and effective treatment of malaria.
Launch the Malaria module
Arthritis: A two-part training module on arthritis, a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Part 1 covers osteoarthritis; Part 2 covers rheumatoid arthritis.
Launch the Arthritis–Part 1 module
Launch the Arthritis–Part 2 module
Stroke: A three-part training module on stroke, which occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the brain is blocked. Part 1 provides general information about strokes. Part 2 covers signs, symptoms and complications of strokes. Part 3 looks at stroke prevention and how to address the risk.
Launch the Stroke–Part 1 module
Launch the Stroke–Part 2 module
Launch the Stroke–Part 3 module
Biosand Filters: Teaches how to build and operate BioSand filters, which use sand and gravel (found locally) in a slow filtration process that treats polluted water, removing 95 to 99 percent of organic contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, worms and particles. The resulting water is clear and odor-free and can be used for drinking, food preparation, sanitation and personal hygiene.
Launch the Biosand Filters module
High Blood Pressure: A comprehensive look at high blood pressure (hypertension), including causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, prevention, treatment and related health risks.
Launch the High Blood Pressure module
Bernice Born, a writer and editor, dots the i’s and crosses the t’s for WiRED Web stories and other communications.
Brian Colombe is WiRED’s IT director. He designed and prepared the website and the modules in this collection.
Jack Condon, Ph.D., a computer programming expert, helped prepare the databases used on the website.
Sarah Dekker is WiRED’s final review editor. She reviews each finished module for internal consistency.
Kristen Garabedian, a writer, editor and image coordinator for WiRED, also provides project assistance for our outreach efforts.
Jennifer Halling is WiRED’s medical editor. She edits the text of our modules and prepares the questions and answers sections.
Allison Kozicharow, WiRED editorial director for the website and other communications, coordinates WiRED’s outreach and website materials.
Miriam Othman, M.D., M.P.H., is WiRED’s medical education director. Dr. Othman wrote or arranged for the content of many modules in this collection.
Gary Selnow, Ph.D., is WiRED's executive director. He travels internationally to set up Community Health Information Centers, works closely with the WiRED team on training materials and the website and develops partnerships with organizations around the world.
Chris Spirito, a computer programming expert, assisted with preparation of the website databases. He also coordinates WiRED’s Facebook page.
Tom Turkle is WiRED’s editorial coordinator for technical material. He initiates the editorial work for each module.
Sameer Verma, Ph.D., an IT expert, is working on additional versions of the new website.
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