Lack of technology infrastructure and the digital divide, especially in rural communities, was another barrier. Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Principal Investigator(s) (PI) Sutton, Elizabeth J; Omisore, Adeleye Dorcas Project Contact Information. 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. 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. © 2017 The Author(s). Another factor in the price of a Mobile Clinic is the amount of medical equipment required. 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. Placing mobile at the heart of the healthcare ecosystem. An effective policy environment is key to ensuring that mConsulting expands equal access to healthcare. Some stakeholders said that health facilities and resources were overstretched. 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. 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. Only a few of the mConsulting services in Nigeria do not charge fees. To extend mHealth projects beyond pilot stage it is imperative that the primary end user is positively predisposed to engaging with the mHealth intervention. With medical equipment, and with your Mobile Health Unit, you get what you pay for. Other research shows that it increases use of maternal and neonatal services and expands vaccination coverage among hard to reach communities. 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. Year(s) Awarded mHealth services have the potential to generate significant impact by reaching women and children who lack access to essential … Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University, College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu City, Enugu State, Nigeria. 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. There are different ways of using the services. Mobile health (mHealth) intervention through message reminders has resulted in significant increase in antenatal care utilisation in previous studies. These units were commissioned on April 26, 2013 at the Parliament State House in Accra, Ghana. Over nine months into COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, there are concerns about how well the country has managed the pandemic. 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. Tablet-Based Mobile Health Ultrasound for Point-of-Care Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Nigeria. The human resources capacity for mConsulting was another concern. Mobile Health Nigeria has been designed to work as a national patient record management system. Even when using mConsulting in emergency care or for first aid, there could be a danger of receiving the wrong advice. 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. 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. 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. mConsulting policies must cover training, credentialing, quality control, maintenance of electronic infrastructure, remuneration and protection against fraud. mConsulting has been found to improve management of chronic and non-chronic communicable diseases. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Mobile can increase the quality, reduce the cost and extend the reach of healthcare to benefit millions. Important information could be missed and errors could be made. It could also reduce exposure of patients to risks associated with hospital visits, such as infections. 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. Yet another startup has made an entrance into the Nigerian medical tech scene. Myles Allen, Kaya Axelsson, Sam Fankhauser & Steve Smith in conversation 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. The danger of misdiagnosis was seen as a barrier to mConsulting. University of Ibadan provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA. We interviewed mobile consulting providers, policy makers, users of mobile health and other stakeholders. Email: suttone@mskcc.org. Telephone: +234 (0) 80 99930547 E-mail:sales@ersltdng.com — Nigeria has recorded more than 82,000 cases of COVID-19, of which 1,246 were fatal. The low density of population [Chima et al. These hospitals are made available to the beneficiaries depending on plan. A 2013 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) projects that such initiatives in Africa could save a million lives by the year 2017. They said it could contribute to better health outcomes, with better diagnosis and management of conditions. 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. 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. 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. The entrepreneurs who invest in these services also need protection. Mobile health apps, in particular, are steadily becoming mainstays of Africans’ mobile health care. Mobile Clinic (Bus) ... Ikeja, Lagos. 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. 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.. Mobile health consulting in Nigeria The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. Data security and privacy is a major problem in Nigeria. 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. Adequate remuneration is vital to sustaining mConsulting services and protecting members of the public against fraud or price gouging. Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. Mobile health consulting in Nigeria The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. Nigeria. 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. Camel mobile clinics have been hailed as one of the more innovative and sustainable means of reaching local communities in far-flung areas. York, York, Helping your child with contamination related concerns Some participants believed that online materials and platforms were susceptible to abuse. For many people, these mobile clinics and teams may be their only source of health care. Novo Health Africa has a wide provider network across the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja. One aspect of this technology is “mConsulting”: mobile phone consultation with healthcare providers. From combating malaria to detecting counterfeit drugs, the emergence of mobile health solutions is saving more lives than international aids. Some expressed distrust about this approach to medical consultations. 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 Conversation UK receives funding from these organisations. Where the facilities for mConsulting were not available and affordable, only a limited segment of the population would have access. It has the potential to increase access to healthcare where resources are scarce and systems are under stress. It is also particularly useful in medical emergencies. Charges range from as low as N147 ($4) to as high as N344,000 ($950). The 2018 NDHS is the sixth Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Nigeria since 1990. — PHC workers focus on how the technology could support them to be more efficient and effective in their roles. Mobile is here to stay in Africa and so are mobile apps. Despite the benefits of mConsulting, participants mentioned some barriers too. Training curricula for healthcare professionals, especially doctors, nurses and pharmacists, must incorporate digital literacy and interaction with patients at remote sites. 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). The initial findings indicate that PHC workers expressed positive perceptions regarding the relevance and benefits associated with the IMPACT app. The services include drug prescriptions, patient referrals, patient follow-up and provision of information about hospitals. There have been suggestions at the National Council of Health that states should introduce eHealth into their healthcare delivery framework. When coordinating crisis response, WHO arranges for mobile health care teams to go by foot, bike, moto, boat or vehicle. We looked at what’s already available and how users and providers perceive this mode of healthcare consulting. Mobile clinics offer flexible and viable options for treating isolated and vulnerable groups as well as to newly displaced populations. YorkTalks 2021 The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. MR/S012729/1). MR/S012729/1). Please Note: Please do not bring anyone with you to your appointment. population and health situation in Nigeria. Search and apply for the latest ongoing recruitment and job vacancies at Mobile Health Consult on MyJobMag 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. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Online talk: Net zero – why and how? They believed that mConsulting could reduce the burden on health workers and increase the income pipeline of physicians. “They are the frontline health workers offering services that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Health and Nutrition Landscape . Also, clients could mislead mobile consultants by not divulging all the relevant information. 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). Respondents in our study perceived mConsulting to have a number of benefits. Portsmouth, Hampshire, Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited, Helping your child with contamination related concerns, Online talk: Net zero – why and how? NAIROBI, KENYA -- Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, Africa's top public health official said Thursday, but he … One of ExxonMobil’s partners, the Family Health Care Association, has been working for more than 10 years in the Delta Region of Nigeria. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries suggests that digital and mobile communication technology can improve management of diseases. 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, … Access to healthcare was one. Compared to the country's population of some 200 million people, this number is tiny. Our mission is to enable access for women and children to essential maternal healthcare through innovative mobile solutions. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Abstract Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. However, its use in PNC services’ uptake has not been adequately investigated in Nigeria. Online, Oxfordshire, Angela Saini - Race, Gender and Power In the interim, short term training programmes can be organised for those already in the workforce. Studies have linked the large percentage of maternal and neonatal mortality that occur in postnatal period to low uptake of postnatal care (PNC) services. 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. These include web chats, text messages, specialised apps, video calls and audio calls. They should not visit a Mobile Health location if they are experiencing symptoms. 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 … In Nigeria, there are 15 functional mConsulting services operated by groups of private doctors. 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. Many service providers rely on doctors who split their time between regular and mobile consultations. Without these teams, thousands of people would suffer needlessly or die. According to PWC, over three million lives are lost yearly across Africa as a result of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and … Working through the local affiliate, Mobil Producing Nigeria, ExxonMobil has directed almost $15 million dollars to malaria programs throughout Nigeria, working through dedicated partners. 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. This could strengthen the healthcare system. 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 places they go can be very remote and dangerous. It could also reduce the costs of using medical services, such as transport to facilities and waiting time. 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. 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. There were variations in stakeholders’ awareness of policy and regulations governing mConsulting in Nigeria. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Some service providers also opened their platforms to both local and international clients, making it difficult to supply the demand. Birmingham, Warwickshire, The Large Hadron Collider and the Hidden Universe They believed that physical interaction between physicians and patients was the most credible and reliable way of assessing a person’s health. Find latest Mobile Health Consult jobs in Nigeria November, 2020. 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. We found that mConsulting is likely to improve accessibility to healthcare. Mobihealth’s revolutionary integrated Telemedicine platform provides a 24-hour access to a panel of top-notch doctors across all specialties from Europe, Asia, … Yet, after more than a decade of deliberations about it, policies are yet to be formulated specifically to govern this sector of healthcare. This work was supported by a foundation grant from the UK Medical Research Council (grant no. “The mission of our mobile health teams is critical,” said Dr Wondimagneghu Alemu, WHO Representative to Nigeria. 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 … 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. But it was introduced into Nigeria without a policy and regulatory framework to assure quality. 2009; National Population Commission (NPC) (Nigeri… — Published by Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2017.11.105. The study explored perceptions, availability and operations of mConsulting services in Nigeria. The agencies that regulate different cadres of health professionals should have clauses in their codes of ethics about mConsulting and eHealth in general. From as low as N147 ( $ 4 ) to as high as (. Apps, video calls and audio calls million people, this number is tiny text. Health apps, in particular, are steadily becoming mainstays of Africans ’ health! 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