mobile health in nigeria

The study explored perceptions, availability and operations of mConsulting services in Nigeria. The entrepreneurs who invest in these services also need protection. Email: suttone@mskcc.org. — Without these teams, thousands of people would suffer needlessly or die. Launched last year, Hudibia is available in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, and has a few other interesting features. Please send all correspondence for the Nigeria office to: Mobil Producing Nigeria Mobil House, 1 Lekki Expressway Victoria Island PMB 12054, Lagos Nigeria Public and Government Affairs For general questions, visit the ExxonMobil corporate global contact us page. mConsulting has been found to improve management of chronic and non-chronic communicable diseases. We interviewed mobile consulting providers, policy makers, users of mobile health and other stakeholders. YorkTalks 2021 Other research shows that it increases use of maternal and neonatal services and expands vaccination coverage among hard to reach communities. Some expressed distrust about this approach to medical consultations. MR/S012729/1). The phone app, utilized by health workers in Nigeria, was provided by the Santa Ana, Calif.-based non-profit eHealth & Information Systems Nigeria. At Odulair, we provide high quality medical vehicles incorporating high quality American and European medical equipment that holds the FDA and CE Mark respectively. Some participants believed that online materials and platforms were susceptible to abuse. Mobile Health Nigeria has been designed to work as a national patient record management system. This work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (grant no. Even when using mConsulting in emergency care or for first aid, there could be a danger of receiving the wrong advice. This work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (Grant No. But various forms of healthcare delivery through electronic platforms have been gradually introduced into … The services include drug prescriptions, patient referrals, patient follow-up and provision of information about hospitals. According to PWC, over three million lives are lost yearly across Africa as a result of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and … Principal Institution. This study assesses the actual cost-effectiveness of initiating and implementing the use of the mHealth as a supply side job aid for antenatal care. It could also reduce exposure of patients to risks associated with hospital visits, such as infections. Data security and privacy is a major problem in Nigeria. Charges range from as low as N147 ($4) to as high as N344,000 ($950). Nigeria. Telephone: +234 (0) 80 99930547 E-mail:sales@ersltdng.com 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.. Through exploring initial perceptions, we can inform later stages of mHealth projects or develop interventions to convert attitudes into commitment or motivation to use mHealth. One of ExxonMobil’s partners, the Family Health Care Association, has been working for more than 10 years in the Delta Region of Nigeria. Birmingham, Warwickshire, The Large Hadron Collider and the Hidden Universe 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. To extend mHealth projects beyond pilot stage it is imperative that the primary end user is positively predisposed to engaging with the mHealth intervention. Compared to the country's population of some 200 million people, this number is tiny. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. For many people, these mobile clinics and teams may be their only source of health care. There were variations in stakeholders’ awareness of policy and regulations governing mConsulting in Nigeria. In the interim, short term training programmes can be organised for those already in the workforce. Akinyinka Omigbodun receives funding from the UK Medical Research Council. They should not visit a Mobile Health location if they are experiencing symptoms. Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University, College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu City, Enugu State, Nigeria. Some service providers also opened their platforms to both local and international clients, making it difficult to supply the demand. The places they go can be very remote and dangerous. 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. They said it could contribute to better health outcomes, with better diagnosis and management of conditions. Some stakeholders said that health facilities and resources were overstretched. This could strengthen the healthcare system. Lack of technology infrastructure and the digital divide, especially in rural communities, was another barrier. Yet another startup has made an entrance into the Nigerian medical tech scene. — Yet, after more than a decade of deliberations about it, policies are yet to be formulated specifically to govern this sector of healthcare. 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, … This is not only about getting medical help at any time: it’s also about the availability of quality and specialist services and bringing emergency care within reach. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries suggests that digital and mobile communication technology can improve management of diseases. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. It has the potential to increase access to healthcare where resources are scarce and systems are under stress. Mobile Health Nigeria is a web based application developed by Taizer Solutions and aimed at helping the health sector to achieve better health care delivery in the country. The 2018 NDHS is the sixth Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Nigeria since 1990. The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. With medical equipment, and with your Mobile Health Unit, you get what you pay for. In fact, there are now over 600 million mobile users on the continent and an increasing crop of new mobile companies creating apps for a populace ripe for innovative mobile technology. Important information could be missed and errors could be made. The initial findings indicate that PHC workers expressed positive perceptions regarding the relevance and benefits associated with the IMPACT app. Portsmouth, Hampshire, Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited, Helping your child with contamination related concerns, Online talk: Net zero – why and how? But it was introduced into Nigeria without a policy and regulatory framework to assure quality. 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. There are different ways of using the services. MR/S012729/1), Eme Theodora Owoaje received funding from this work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (grant no. 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. MR/S012729/1). Where the facilities for mConsulting were not available and affordable, only a limited segment of the population would have access. “The mission of our mobile health teams is critical,” said Dr Wondimagneghu Alemu, WHO Representative to Nigeria. 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. Mobile health consulting in Nigeria The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. The low density of population [Chima et al. Camel mobile clinics have been hailed as one of the more innovative and sustainable means of reaching local communities in far-flung areas. We looked at what’s already available and how users and providers perceive this mode of healthcare consulting. For decades the issue of easily accessible and readily available health records has been a major challenge for the industry. Many service providers rely on doctors who split their time between regular and mobile consultations. There have been suggestions at the National Council of Health that states should introduce eHealth into their healthcare delivery framework. Published by Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2017.11.105. These include web chats, text messages, specialised apps, video calls and audio calls. Placing mobile at the heart of the healthcare ecosystem. Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Principal Investigator(s) (PI) Sutton, Elizabeth J; Omisore, Adeleye Dorcas Project Contact Information. mConsulting policies must cover training, credentialing, quality control, maintenance of electronic infrastructure, remuneration and protection against fraud. NAIROBI, KENYA -- Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, Africa's top public health official said Thursday, but he … Year(s) Awarded Despite the benefits of mConsulting, participants mentioned some barriers too. These units were commissioned on April 26, 2013 at the Parliament State House in Accra, Ghana. Respondents in our study perceived mConsulting to have a number of benefits. From combating malaria to detecting counterfeit drugs, the emergence of mobile health solutions is saving more lives than international aids. In Nigeria, there are 15 functional mConsulting services operated by groups of private doctors. Search and apply for the latest ongoing recruitment and job vacancies at Mobile Health Consult on MyJobMag Novo Health Africa has a wide provider network across the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja. — This qualitative exploratory study aims to understand end users’, namely Primary Healthcare (PHC) workers, initial attitudes towards a mHealth project called IMPACT (usIng Mobile Phones for Assessing, Classifying and Treating sick children). Training curricula for healthcare professionals, especially doctors, nurses and pharmacists, must incorporate digital literacy and interaction with patients at remote sites. They believed that mConsulting could reduce the burden on health workers and increase the income pipeline of physicians. Another factor in the price of a Mobile Clinic is the amount of medical equipment required. Adequate remuneration is vital to sustaining mConsulting services and protecting members of the public against fraud or price gouging. Working through the local affiliate, Mobil Producing Nigeria, ExxonMobil has directed almost $15 million dollars to malaria programs throughout Nigeria, working through dedicated partners. 4×4 vehicle preferred for bringing primary health services in-site to people in remote areas having harsh travelling conditions. We found that mConsulting is likely to improve accessibility to healthcare. Over nine months into COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, there are concerns about how well the country has managed the pandemic. Despite this heightened focus on mHealth, the number of fully operational mHealth solutions implemented in these locations remains surprisingly low. — They believed that physical interaction between physicians and patients was the most credible and reliable way of assessing a person’s health. Health and Nutrition Landscape . 2009; National Population Commission (NPC) (Nigeri… Only a few of the mConsulting services in Nigeria do not charge fees. Our mission is to enable access for women and children to essential maternal healthcare through innovative mobile solutions. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. A Ground-Up Approach to mHealth in Nigeria: A Study of Primary Healthcare Workers’ Attitude to mHealth Adoption. An effective policy environment is key to ensuring that mConsulting expands equal access to healthcare. mHealth services have the potential to generate significant impact by reaching women and children who lack access to essential … The danger of misdiagnosis was seen as a barrier to mConsulting. “They are the frontline health workers offering services that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Mobile is here to stay in Africa and so are mobile apps. It is also particularly useful in medical emergencies. Tablet-Based Mobile Health Ultrasound for Point-of-Care Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Nigeria. Find latest Mobile Health Consult jobs in Nigeria November, 2020. These hospitals are made available to the beneficiaries depending on plan. The human resources capacity for mConsulting was another concern. 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. Dr Simpa Dania, Chief Happiness Officer, APMIS Health Management Systems Ltd., says e-health and telemedicine will go a long way to solve Nigeria’s healthcare delivery challenges. What if your network hospitals are not located within easy reach of the community or the hospitals around the … Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Online talk: Net zero – why and how? 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). The Conversation UK receives funding from these organisations. Mobihealth’s revolutionary integrated Telemedicine platform provides a 24-hour access to a panel of top-notch doctors across all specialties from Europe, Asia, … Health ICT is more than electronic health records; it is applied across the health system and services to ensure continuity of patient care across time. When coordinating crisis response, WHO arranges for mobile health care teams to go by foot, bike, moto, boat or vehicle. Mobile health (mHealth) intervention through message reminders has resulted in significant increase in antenatal care utilisation in previous studies. The objective of the survey was to provide reliable estimates of demographic and health indicators including fertility, family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status Mobile health apps, in particular, are steadily becoming mainstays of Africans’ mobile health care. Mobile Clinic (Bus) ... Ikeja, Lagos. 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. However, its use in PNC services’ uptake has not been adequately investigated in Nigeria. York, York, Helping your child with contamination related concerns 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. Mobile clinics offer flexible and viable options for treating isolated and vulnerable groups as well as to newly displaced populations. 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. population and health situation in Nigeria. — PHC workers focus on how the technology could support them to be more efficient and effective in their roles. 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. Please Note: Please do not bring anyone with you to your appointment. This means that a patient may walk into any hospital nationwide making use of our state of the art application and have his/her medical information retrieved to receive treatment. 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. 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. University of Ibadan provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA. Abstract Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. 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. Nigeria has recorded more than 82,000 cases of COVID-19, of which 1,246 were fatal. One aspect of this technology is “mConsulting”: mobile phone consultation with healthcare providers. Mobile plans among Nigerians have skyrocketed from 87 million active users four years ago to more than 131 million now, Johnson pointed out, in her statement. Access to healthcare was one. It could also reduce the costs of using medical services, such as transport to facilities and waiting time. © 2017 The Author(s). Mobile health consulting in Nigeria The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. Mobile can increase the quality, reduce the cost and extend the reach of healthcare to benefit millions. The agencies that regulate different cadres of health professionals should have clauses in their codes of ethics about mConsulting and eHealth in general. 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. A 2013 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) projects that such initiatives in Africa could save a million lives by the year 2017. Also, clients could mislead mobile consultants by not divulging all the relevant information. Studies have linked the large percentage of maternal and neonatal mortality that occur in postnatal period to low uptake of postnatal care (PNC) services. Online, Oxfordshire, Angela Saini - Race, Gender and Power Myles Allen, Kaya Axelsson, Sam Fankhauser & Steve Smith in conversation 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. We conducted a field study in Enugu State, Nigeria to understand end users’ perceptions of the relevance, benefits, threats and initial understanding of the technology influencing end users’ attitudes towards adoption of mHealth. Introduce eHealth into their healthcare delivery framework, with better Diagnosis and management of chronic and communicable. Well as to newly displaced populations we found that mConsulting expands equal access to healthcare were to! Invest in these services also need protection of the healthcare ecosystem in general the digital divide especially. 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From the UK medical Research Council ( grant no making it difficult to supply the demand text messages, apps. Utilisation in previous studies study assesses the actual cost-effectiveness of initiating and implementing the use of cookies of physicians doctors! Was supported by a foundation grant from the UK medical Research Council ( grant no the relevance benefits... Local and international clients, making it difficult to supply the demand services and vaccination. Care utilisation in previous studies without a policy and regulatory framework to quality! Enable access for women and children to essential maternal healthcare through innovative mobile solutions a million lives by the 2017. Your appointment mHealth ) intervention through message reminders has resulted in significant increase antenatal! Entrepreneurs who invest in these services also need protection, making it difficult to supply demand... With better Diagnosis and management of diseases in developing countries to transform the of. Piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services mobile consultations neonatal services expands...

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