Engaging ICTs as a “Tool” for eHealth prioritization on human development and poverty reduction in the African region
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: The association connecting information and communication technologies (ICTs) and well-being\nor poverty remains vague and research today has resulted to divergent conclusions. This paper\ndefines ICTs as “tools” that facilitate communication and the processing and transmission of\ninformation and the sharing of knowledge by electronic means. In the African region context, we\nexamine ICTs utilization that aims to improve the provision, access and information management\nin the health sector. This paper considers access to information as very important benefits that\ncan be achieved in many areas including economic growth, education and healthcare. In\nhealthcare, the roles that ICT plays in ensuring that health information is provided to healthcare\nproviders and consumers to support improving the health of individuals and strengthening health\nsystems, disease detection and prevention are crucial to development and poverty reduction as\nstated in the UN’s MDGs. For example, access to appropriate information can minimise visits to\nphysicians and periods of hospitalisation for patients suffering from chronic conditions, such as\nasthma, diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS. This will in turn reduce the cost of healthcare\nprovision. ICTs have the potential to impact almost every aspect of health sector. The paper then\nproposed how ICTs can be used to reduce poverty and ensure that health information is well\nadministered and reaches the right people, at the right time and in the right form.
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W46082103