1. NLM's Commitment to MIM: Past, Present, Future Presented by: Julia Royall Chief, International Programs National Library of Medicine Presented to: Multilateral Initiative on Malaria/Tropical Disease Research Task Force on Malaria Research Capability Strengthening in Africa March 10, 2008 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2. First research network of its kind in Africa

3. Goals of MIMCom First phase Setting up the network based on the needs as defined by researchers Second phase Supporting research agendas Africanizing MIMCom leadership

4. MIMCom Partnerships

5. MIMCom: Phase 1 Enhanced connectivity to the Internet and medical literature Comprised 19 research sites in 13 countries Supported by a consortium of over 30 local and international partners.

6. MIMCom: Phase 2 Focused on MIM-TDR grantees Provided Internet and information access at 5 sites in 3 additional countries Supported by SIDA Goal has been to create sustainable access.

7. MIMCom Program Components The MIMCom program has included the following:

8. Internet Access 19 sites in 13 countries

9. Web Site

10. Weekly Newsletter

12. Training Programs Kilifi, Kenya: June 2002

13. Monitoring & Evaluation Activities

14. Evaluation Conclusions MIMCom is making a significant difference in the professional performance of individual researchers Collaborations with colleagues Short courses Proposals written and funded Papers written and published Clinical trials E-mail access Counteracting isolation & self-esteem issues Africa-to-Africa connection needs strengthening

15. Support of Specific Research Agendas

16. MIMCom Web Site Advisory Committee Abdoulaye Djimde Mali Andrew Githeko Kenya Louis Gouagna Kenya Saadou si. IssifouGabon Moses Kamya Uganda Fred Kironde Uganda Kojo Koram Ghana Martha Lemnge Tanzania Wilfred MbachamCameroon Michel MissinouGabon David Ofori-AdjeiGhana

17. Work begun as part of MIMCom has now been incorporated into NLM's international programs

18. MIMCom News Weekly publication for malaria researchers reaching over 1500 subscribers around the world MIMCom News has been recently spun off and is now run privately by Inga Van Schayk as Malaria World

19. MIMCom Web Site www.nlm.nih.gov/mimcom

20. Resources for International Librarians Resources for International Librarians, Health Professionals and Researchers in Developing Countries: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/psd/ref/international.html including many NLM products which are free to anyone with a web browser. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/psd/ref/international.html

21. Training Researchers and librarians connected with MIM sites At individual sites At the African Health Information Libraries Association (AHILA) conference

22. MedlinePlus for Africa Tutorial on Malaria With faculty and students of Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University In collaboration with Ugandan artists and audio producers In English and two local languages. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/africa/malaria.html

23. MedlinePlus for Africa Tutorial on Malaria

25. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/africa/malaria.html

26. African Medical Journal Editors Partnership Program Focuses on journals at MIM sites in: Mali Ghana Uganda Malawi

27. MIMCom Publications Royall J., Faces of Change American Journal of Public Health,2005 Apr;95(4):559-61. Royall J, Schayk I, Bennett M, Kamau N, Alilio M. Crossing the Digital Divide: the Contribution of Information Technology to the Professional Performance of Malaria Researchers in Africa African Health Sciences, 5 (3), 2005, pp. 246-254. Crossing the Digital Divide: the Contribution of Information Technology to the Professional Performance of Malaria Researchers in Africa Royall J, Bennett M, van Schayk I, Alilio M.Tying Up Lions: Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Communications: the First Chapter of a Malaria Research Network in Africa Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 71(2 suppl), 2004, pp. 259-267.Tying Up Lions: Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Communications: the First Chapter of a Malaria Research Network in Africa

28. For more information, please contact Julia Royall Chief, International Programs Director, Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Communications Network (MIMCom) U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, MS-12 Room 2S-22 Bethesda, MD 20894 Telephone: 301-402-2808 Fax: 301-496-4450 E-mail: jroyall@nlm.nih.gov Web: www.nlm.nih.gov www.nlm.nih.gov/mimcomjroyall@nlm.nih.govwww.nlm.nih.gov www.nlm.nih.gov/mimcom