Bridging Data Gaps for Better Health: YouthMappers' Impactful Collaboration with Clinton Health Access Initiative in Kenya

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Collaborations have proven instrumental in fostering meaningful engagement for YouthMappers, providing opportunities for career growth. The conclusion of 2023 marked a triumphant moment for YouthMappers in Kenya. Nancy Kinywa, representing the Clinton Health Access Initiative, along with Maurine Oyugi, the Regional Ambassador for YouthMappers, organized a mapathon to bridge spatial data gaps that aid in analyzing health access in Kenya. The mappers cleaned data related to health facilities while also incorporating relevant data on schools and roads for comprehensive community health planning. This collaboration not only signifies recognition of YouthMappers' capabilities but also underscores the consortium's pivotal role in contributing to essential projects with real-world impact. The involvement of YouthMappers in addressing data gaps for such a critical initiative exemplifies the tangible and positive influence that collaborative efforts have on both organizations and the career development of mappers.

Day One

Day one of the two-day mapathon centered on inputting location data for missing or incorrectly positioned health facilities into an Excel sheet. Each mapper played a crucial role, contributing to one or two counties. The event was well-supported by four individuals providing assistance: Walter Mayeku (OSM Kenya), Maurine Oyugi (Regional Ambassador), Joseph Munyenze (JKUAT YouthMappers President, 2022-2023), and Brenda Kajuju (KU_GIS Club President, 2023-2024). Noteworthy university chapters participating in the mapathon included the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenyatta University, Dedan Kimathi University, Technical University of Kenya, and Laikipia University.

Day Two 

The workflow entailed conducting network analysis of health facility access in Kenya using OSM road data. Each mapper was trained on using QGIS and JOSM, the main tools for the training, following installation. Health data shared with each mapper (by county) required acquiring current road data for the counties being worked on. Health data overlaid on the road network was analyzed for facility access, and facilities without road access were identified and mapped on OSM using JOSM. Carefully considering road hierarchy, completeness, and tagging, participants mapped most highways that were missing from OSM. The mapped datasets were then subjected to validation by advanced mappers in attendance.

Organizations like StatsSpeak played a pivotal role in the event, motivating students to present their projects. This opened up a distinctive avenue through which a number of students managed to secure internships, sidestepping the traditional formal interview process. The showcased projects spanned the diverse fields of health, IT, and data technology, adding a multifaceted dimension to the event. In summary, the event was not only productive but also enjoyable. Beyond the presentations and hands-on data contributions in Excel and OpenStreetMap (OSM), students seized the chance to build valuable connections through networking, underscoring the enduring impact of the gathering on their professional and collaborative endeavors.

About the Author

Maurine Oyugi is a Regional Ambassador based in Kenya and a GIS consultant with a B.Sc. in Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems.