AVSC has been keeping pace with the developments in information technology, and we are currently exploring new ways of using this technology to increase the effectiveness of our work.
The Web
Since its debut in late 1995, AVSC's site on the World Wide Web (www.avsc.org) has grown considerably. Hundreds of people a day now access the site, which, in addition to general information about AVSC, provides information on contraception, informed choice, reproductive tract infections and diseases, quality of care, and emerging issues in reproductive health. In 1997, AVSC received over 700 e-mails requesting information or publications, many of which were in response to the web site.
Talking Amongst Ourselves
With a staff of over 250 people-many of whom often travel to perform medical site visits or training exercises in clinics in different cities and countries-and with more than 25 offices around the world, AVSC has long faced daunting challenges in communication.
Although AVSC has historically made use of cables, courier packages, phone calls, and faxes to communicate with traveling or field staff, these methods are often slow or expensive. The use of e-mail has deepened our ability to talk quickly and cost-effectively, and the establishment of an "intranet" site-a private web site accessible only to AVSC staff-has dramatically increased our ability to transmit and share information.
The intranet, built entirely by staff members trained on-the-job, allows information to be posted easily and efficiently and to be retrieved by staff on an as-needed basis. Almost anywhere in the world, AVSC staff can log on to the intranet site using their laptops or any computer with Internet access.
Distance Learning
AVSC is currently developing computer-assisted training materials for use in the developing world. Using our existing training curricula, AVSC will make use of both the Internet and CD-ROM technology to develop a series of self-paced, computer-assisted learning applications.
Although many developing countries are just beginning to get on the information superhighway, the world is changing fast. AVSC and our in-country partners need to be ready for the future. This project will give us an opportunity to test the waters and explore innovative ways of disseminating educational materials and helping individual sites build the technical capacity for computer- and Internet-based training.
