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eHealth and Telemedicine in Nigeria
Introduction
According to WHO report, in Nigeria life expectancy dropped from 53.8
years for females and 52.6 years for males in 1991 to 46 years for
females and 45years for males in 2004. The infant mortality rate(IMR)
rose from 87.2 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 104 in 2004. The
maternal mortality ratio of 800 per 100,000 live births is one of the
highest in the world.
The disability adjusted life expectancy (DALE) of 38.3 years ranks 187
in the WHO report. There is thus an urgent need to support the health
system with adequately trained personnel and medical facilities in order
to improve the quality of healthcare.
Important causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria include malaria,
TB, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS , parasitic infestations, typhoid fever,
pneumonia, complications of pregnancies and deliveries, hypertension and
diabetes mellitus. Others include strokes, cancers, sickle cell disease
and accidents, coronary artery disease and pulmonary arterial embolism,
amongst others. eHealth has a crucial role to play in the diagnosis and
management of these conditions and related complications.
The Nigerian health care system is presently characterized by inadequate
infrastructures and lack of basic amenities. The federal government has
commenced refurbishment of some of the teaching hospitals. Most of the
existing health services are inaccessible to the vulnerable group
especially the poor and people living in rural and underdeveloped areas.
What is e-Health?
eHealth is a relatively new term in health care practice and one of the
most rapidly growing areas in health and ICT today. The term encompasses
a range of services that involve health care and information technology
supported by electronic processes and communication. It involves the use
of information and communication technology(ICT) to improve patient
care.
The World Health Organization defines eHealth as ‘the cost-effective and
secure use of information and communications technologies(ICT) in
support of health and health- related fields, including health-care
services, health surveillance, health literature , and health education,
knowledge and research’.(WHO 2005).
Eysenbach G, a world-renowned eHealth expert defines eHealth as ‘an
emerging field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health
and business , referring to health services and information delivered or
enhanced through the Internet and related technologies. In a broader
sense, the term characterizes not only a technical development, but also
a state –of-mind, a way of thinking, an attitude, and a commitment for
networked, global thinking, to improve health care locally, regionally,
and worldwide by using information and communication
technology’.(Eysenbach, 2001).
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine involves the use of medical information transferred from
one site to another through electronic communications to improve
patient’s health care including diagnosis and treatment.
Telemedicine may be as simple as two medical professionals discussing a
case over the telephone, or as advanced as using video teleconferencing
systems.
Two forms of e-Health/Telemedicine
eHealth occurs in two forms which include synchronous or ‘real time’
communications and asynchronous or ‘store and forward’ communications.
Synchronous eHealth requires a communication link between two or more
parties that allows a real-time interaction to occur. Synchronous
telemedicine may use video-conferencing equipment with attachment of
peripheral devices which aid in interactive examinations. For instance,
a tele-stethoscope(eStethoscope) allows the consulting physician in
remote location to listen to the patient’s heartbeat and lungs, a
tele-ophthalmoscope(eOphthalmoscope) and tele-otoscope(eOtoscope) allow
a remote physician to examine a patient’s eyes and ears respectively.
Asynchronous eHealth involves the acquisition and transmission of
patient’s medical data such as radiological studies, laboratory results
and biomonitoring information to a physician at a convenient time for
assessment offline. A digital image is taken using a digital
camera(‘stored’) and then sent (‘forwarded’) to another location.
Asynchronous eHealth doesn’t require the parties to be present at the
same time.
Next
on
eHealth and Telemedicine in Nigeria - 2
By
Dr Osbert
Egiebor, MD, FAAP, FACR.
Dr O. O. Egiebor
is a Nigerian
Physician practicing in the United States of America. He performs
regular voluntary medical missions in Nigeria.
He is actively involved in the establishment of Lincoln Advanced
Radiology & Diagnostic Medical Centre in Benin City, Nigeria. The
project is being undertaken by Nigerian Physicians in the United States
in order to improve the standard of healthcare and medical education in
Nigeria. The centre will serve as a teaching facility for Nigerian
Physicians and medical students.
What
Do you Have to Say? Post
Your Comments about this article Here
COMMENTS
for "eHealth
and Telemedicine in Nigeria":
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July 28, 2008
The Management,
Lincoln Medical Systems
says:
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Based on our extensive experience in the United States of
America, we remain fully committed to improve the quality of
healthcare and medical education in our beloved fatherland,
Nigeria. It is our duty and responsibility to improve the
quality of life of our fellow Nigerians.
Despite the obstacles, we will not give up on Nigeria. With God
everything is possible.
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July 26, 2008
David Eboh, Healthcare
Management Consultant
London
says:
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In Nigeria, we try to run without learning to stand and walk and
we leap without looking. eHealth and Telemedicine requires
regular electricity and conducting landline telephone systems.
Healthcare is not just a city project targeting the educated,
elite and rich members of the society, but the entire
population, most of who live in rural areas. How far has these
heart warming concepts gone in benefiting health professionals
in the rural areas? I have the view that it will instead be
disincentive for the majority of hardworking people in the
industry as it will create a dichotomy in the ranks of the
professionals.
How much are the hospitals equipped with high tech equipments
with adequate personnel trained to man them? I should suggest
that before government pump public money into projects like
eHealth and Telemedicine, effort must be placed to establish a
viable healthcare system that provides equal opportunity for
accessibility and affordability for all the citizens. We must
not deceive ourselves that we can just get up and catch up with
the western world; instead we should learn fast how to
incrementally advance our industries and institutions to a level
where we can confidently and sustainably apply all the
technologies that would be available. Some ideas always seem
like it aims to create avenue for some people to achieve
personal narrow interest against the benefit for the entire
population. eHealth and Telemedicine are good visions, but they
are not the priorities for advancing healthcare development in
Nigeria.
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June 28, 2008
Dr Umar Bindir of the
Federal
Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria says:
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This is a wonderful effort, and I encourage the doctor to consider
the possibilities of partnering with the National Space Research
and Development Agency NASRDA in Nigeria who recently have
launched a facility on telemedicine using a v-sat equipped
vehicle with medical facilities to be deployed in rural areas.
Google them and you will locate them.
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April 16, 2008
Olutunji
in Lagos says:
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Welcome to what has been missing in black Africa.. the power of
Information shared. There are bodies of knowledge that need to
go from personal property to shared resource for the improvement
of our lives.
Thank you Doctor.
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April 3, 2008
Zainab Al from Kaduna says:
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Thank you Doctor for sharing this exciting and useful
information on applying technology to improve healthcare. And
please spread your tentacles all over Nigeria and Africa. We
need more of such from our people in the diaspora.
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QSoft -ICT solutions, eHealth Telemedicine
provider - a NASITEA member
Click for Nigeria's ICT Policy Resources - ICT4D Nigeria
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