We worked with Ona in 2017-2018 on an electronic immunization registry as part of the Better Immunization Data (BID) Initiative work with the government of Zambia, using the OpenSRP platform. Ona was an excellent partner as we refined the system requirements and worked under a tight timeline to meet the government’s vision and our grant objectives. Through our partnership, the Zambia Electronic Immunization Registry (ZEIR) was developed and deployed to over 300 facilities in Southern Province. The Ona team was critical in thinking through all facets of the work, from the system itself but also ensuring the user perspective was constantly integrated and that issues of sustainability were considered. We continue to collaborate with Ona in a variety of areas.

In 2019, Cyclone Idai struck Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killing over 1,300 and causing an estimated $2.2b in damage. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, I deployed to ground-zero with a team from Ona. Our primary objective was to support the Government of Mozambique and the broader UN and humanitarian community to strengthen availability and usage of geo-spatial and real-time data for planning, monitoring and response. Ona’s team played a key role in digitizing the National Institute of Disaster Managements monitoring processes, as well as collaborating to better visualize this data for decision making. Throughout this emergency, Ona showed technical excellence, a drive for results, and a deftness in building relationships. Ona proved to be a strong and reliable partner, who continues to support our country programmes and government counterparts across the region.

We at the Johns Hopkins University Global mHealth Initiative have been working closely with the Ona team for almost a decade as a partner in developing and testing new digital health solutions in difficult, remote LMIC settings. The Ona team is deeply driven to take on impactful work that is translatable to multiple settings and locally sustainable. In working to develop new strategies to optimize health workers and supervisors, they integrate design principles at every stage — making sure the focus is always on the end-user and beneficiary. Working with Ona has been a privilege as they consistently exceed our expectations in delivering cutting-edge innovative solutions for our field sites and government partnerships.

Working together providing solutions for a better life is challenging. Similar visions and goals are needed between the partners. Through the years, Ona has provided valuable support in rolling out the OpenSRP application in Indonesia because they deal with project risk and complexity with a focus on improving efficiency and innovation. Ona stays ahead of emerging technology trends with the most up-to-date and advanced information in health sector.