The potential of telemedicine in South Sudan
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction The aim of this article is to introduce the concept of telemedicine in South Sudan, as part of routine healthcare delivery. The following objectives are addressed, to: Highlight potential areas where telemedicine 1. would add value in addressing some of the health challenges; Identify some of the examples of telemedicine 2. initiatives in Africa and Propose to the relevant authority and professional 3. group from where to start when considering the adoption of telemedicine. Before the modern form of distant communication was introduced, mankind had their means of communicating messages, and South Sudan was not an exception. While the purposes of such communication were many, they included those related to health such as calling for help to save lives in emergency situations. Among South Sudanese, traditional communications means included using drums, various ways of making oneself heard by sounding alarm using one’s voice (kelemete) with the hope of being heard. Elsewhere in the world, there were reported examples of how health messages were communicated in ancient times. A ship with passengers infected with bubonic plaque had to fly a yellow flag in order to warn others of the presence of infectious disease on board. Lepers were made to ring bells so as to warn other people to keep away [1]. Modern technologies have extended our ability to communicate across the world, especially following the discovery of telephone in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell [1]. While the use of new technologies for the delivery of healthcare at a distance started mainly in the United States of America (USA) in the 1960’s, it has now expanded by varying degrees across the world [1, 2]. This is what has become known as “telemedicine”. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines “telemedicine” as: “The delivery of a healthcare service, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.” [3] Readers should be aware that there are other terms used in the published literature including “electronic health” (e-health), “mobile health” (m-health) and “telehealth”. These terms and their distinctions are discussed elsewhere [4].
Source: South Sudan Medical Journal
Author: Victor Joseph
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W293401796