The entrepreneurs who invest in these services also need protection. Data security and privacy is a major problem in Nigeria. The places they go can be very remote and dangerous. 1987; Callaway 1987; Wall 1998; Adamu and Salihu 2002; Centre for Reproductive Rights and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre 2008; Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria 2009). Please Note: Please do not bring anyone with you to your appointment. With the shortage of doctors in the Nigerian health system, dividing the time of the hospital workforce with mConsulting engagement puts more pressure on existing human resources. But various forms of healthcare delivery through electronic platforms have been gradually introduced into … Studies have linked the large percentage of maternal and neonatal mortality that occur in postnatal period to low uptake of postnatal care (PNC) services. The human resources capacity for mConsulting was another concern. Over nine months into COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, there are concerns about how well the country has managed the pandemic. Adequate remuneration is vital to sustaining mConsulting services and protecting members of the public against fraud or price gouging. The low density of population [Chima et al. Mobile is here to stay in Africa and so are mobile apps. Respondents in our study perceived mConsulting to have a number of benefits. This work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (Grant No. — These units were commissioned on April 26, 2013 at the Parliament State House in Accra, Ghana. But it was introduced into Nigeria without a policy and regulatory framework to assure quality. Principal Institution. — What if your network hospitals are not located within easy reach of the community or the hospitals around the … Background: The use of mobile technology in the health sector, often referred to as mHealth, is an innovation that is being used in countries to improve health outcomes and increase and improve both the demand and supply of health care services. They should not visit a Mobile Health location if they are experiencing symptoms. One aspect of this technology is “mConsulting”: mobile phone consultation with healthcare providers. With medical equipment, and with your Mobile Health Unit, you get what you pay for. Myles Allen, Kaya Axelsson, Sam Fankhauser & Steve Smith in conversation The danger of misdiagnosis was seen as a barrier to mConsulting. According to PWC, over three million lives are lost yearly across Africa as a result of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and … University of Ibadan provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA. It is worrisome that, with less than 2 years to the set date for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the numbers are not looking good regarding the situation of women and children in Nigeria.It is reported that about 53,000 women die annually from complications during pregnancy and delivery, including haemorrhage, infections, … Mobile Health Map is an online platform where the community of mobile clinics aggregates its data for the purpose of documenting the scope, geographic reach, and value of the services provided. Mobile health consulting in Nigeria The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. Online, Oxfordshire, Angela Saini - Race, Gender and Power By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Launched last year, Hudibia is available in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, and has a few other interesting features. 4×4 vehicle preferred for bringing primary health services in-site to people in remote areas having harsh travelling conditions. They believed that physical interaction between physicians and patients was the most credible and reliable way of assessing a person’s health. Omomi, which means ‘my child’, takes advantage of Nigeria’s high mobile phone penetration to provide valuable antenatal, postnatal and child health information to parents who need it. It has the potential to increase access to healthcare where resources are scarce and systems are under stress. An effective policy environment is key to ensuring that mConsulting expands equal access to healthcare. Another factor in the price of a Mobile Clinic is the amount of medical equipment required. Important Notice regarding Coronavirus: Any patient experiencing a fever and signs of respiratory illness (cough or shortness of breath) or who has been in contact with any known cases, please reschedule their visit. mHealth services have the potential to generate significant impact by reaching women and children who lack access to essential … Demographic, cultural, topographic, socio-economic and developmental factors combine to create significant barriers to health services delivery in areas such as the North-West zone of Northern Nigeria (Ayeni et al. The first delivery in the Odulair Mobile Clinics for Africa Program included an initial shipment of 18 Mobile Clinics and Biometric Medical Vans for the Ministry of Health, Republic of Ghana. But various forms of healthcare delivery through electronic platforms have been gradually introduced into the Nigerian scene with labels such as eHealth, ehealth4everyone, digital health, telemedicine and others. The study explored perceptions, availability and operations of mConsulting services in Nigeria. Senior lecturer, University of Ibadan, University of Ibadan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ibadan & Professor of Reproductive Health Sciences, Pan African University Life & Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan. Email: suttone@mskcc.org. From combating malaria to detecting counterfeit drugs, the emergence of mobile health solutions is saving more lives than international aids. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. For decades the issue of easily accessible and readily available health records has been a major challenge for the industry. This work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (grant no. Yet another startup has made an entrance into the Nigerian medical tech scene. They said it could contribute to better health outcomes, with better diagnosis and management of conditions. Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University, College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu City, Enugu State, Nigeria. — Novo Health Africa has a wide provider network across the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja. MR/S012729/1). Charges range from as low as N147 ($4) to as high as N344,000 ($950). Year(s) Awarded Evidence from low- and middle-income countries suggests that digital and mobile communication technology can improve management of diseases. Some participants believed that online materials and platforms were susceptible to abuse. The objective of the survey was to provide reliable estimates of demographic and health indicators including fertility, family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status The participation of the private sector has made it an imperative to have clear-cut policies to protect the public as users of mobile consulting services. Some service providers also opened their platforms to both local and international clients, making it difficult to supply the demand. However, they advocate the need for community wide education and training to eradicate negative perceptions or misgivings about the potential use of mHealth as part of a patient’s assessment. Portsmouth, Hampshire, Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited, Helping your child with contamination related concerns, Online talk: Net zero – why and how? We conducted a study to explore whether mConsulting has the potential to improve healthcare in Nigeria, where the use of mobile communication technology has expanded rapidly. Important information could be missed and errors could be made. Tablet-Based Mobile Health Ultrasound for Point-of-Care Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Nigeria. Akinyinka Omigbodun receives funding from the UK Medical Research Council. A vision for mConsulting and eHealth needs to be integrated with the framework of the Abuja Accord to drive the achievement of healthcare for all. The Conversation UK receives funding from these organisations. It’s called Hudibia, and is a mobile app that allows users search for a doctor anywhere in the world, have a consultation, book an appointment and pay for these services in-app.. A 2013 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) projects that such initiatives in Africa could save a million lives by the year 2017. Telephone: +234 (0) 80 99930547 E-mail:sales@ersltdng.com It could also reduce the costs of using medical services, such as transport to facilities and waiting time. Mobile Health Nigeria has been designed to work as a national patient record management system. © 2017 The Author(s). Other research shows that it increases use of maternal and neonatal services and expands vaccination coverage among hard to reach communities. Search and apply for the latest ongoing recruitment and job vacancies at Mobile Health Consult on MyJobMag In Nigeria, there are 15 functional mConsulting services operated by groups of private doctors. It includes mobile health (mHealth) services, tele-health, health research, consumer health informatics to support individuals in health decision-making, and eLearning by health workers. population and health situation in Nigeria. Health and Nutrition Landscape . The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. MR/S012729/1). When coordinating crisis response, WHO arranges for mobile health care teams to go by foot, bike, moto, boat or vehicle. Myles Allen, Kaya Axelsson, Sam Fankhauser & Steve Smith in conversation, The Large Hadron Collider and the Hidden Universe, digital and mobile communication technology, improve management of chronic and non-chronic communicable diseases. The phone app, utilized by health workers in Nigeria, was provided by the Santa Ana, Calif.-based non-profit eHealth & Information Systems Nigeria. To extend mHealth projects beyond pilot stage it is imperative that the primary end user is positively predisposed to engaging with the mHealth intervention. Nigeria has recorded more than 82,000 cases of COVID-19, of which 1,246 were fatal. 2009; National Population Commission (NPC) (Nigeri… Abstract Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. Placing mobile at the heart of the healthcare ecosystem. We found that mConsulting is likely to improve accessibility to healthcare. These include web chats, text messages, specialised apps, video calls and audio calls. York, York, Helping your child with contamination related concerns ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. 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