Akinremi
Peter Taiwo
The
embracement of information and communication technology had contributed greatly
to the development of Nigeria as a whole. ICT infrastructure can be said to be
the overall name used to describe all communications hardware and software
someone uses as individual, in organization to get work done. ICT infrastructures are technological tools
and resources used to communicate, disseminate, store and manage information
effectively.(infoxchange.net)
In
Nigeria, there are various ICT services which are unfolding as a result of invention
of internet and the embracement of information and communication technology by
the Government. The development of this great nation depends on the deployment
of ICT infrastructure which will lead to various opportunities on her
development.
Recently,
the Government of Cross river state signed
a contract worth N1.1 billion naira to MTN Communication Limited,
Nigeria for broadband
infrastructure in calabar (www.crrossriverstate.gov.ng) on Thursday 18th July to provide
quality of services to the residents in calabar which will lead to service in
e-ticketing, smart education, e-tourism and smart health (telemedicine). Cross
river state is a state with total population of 2.89 million persons (2006
census) and with 19 local Government and several villages distant from each other
and with its people involving majorly in agriculture. The Government is making
all her possible efforts to cater for the health of his people by embarking on
renovating 196 primary health care centers in the state to furnish her
appropriate infrastructure and smart health to deliver adequate health service
to her people. This proposal shall look on how telemedicine can be helpful to
deliver the goals of the state in providing adequate service to her people.
Telemedicine
is the provision of health care services through electronic means (www.amic.org). As it name implies
it’s delivering of medical information and diagnosis through a medium of
telecommunication devices. The purpose of the telemedicine service is to
provide expert-based health care to the people in the community by using modern
technological tools and to complement the efforts of Ministry of Health in the
State.
Distance
as a barrier to adequate health service results in high rate of premature
death, spread of diseases, and loss of life and pregnancy. Information and
communication technology can be used to bridge the gap by availability of
health care services to the people in Cross River State through remote
delivering of health service. According to (O.N.Okike, Nov.3,2012) at 11.23am
said that “Telemedicine is the use of telecom to provide clinical health care
at a distance helps to eliminate distance barriers and facilitate the
prevention of unnecessary loss of lives in a critical care and emergency” In a
city like Cross River having 2.89 million persons and with 196 primary health
care centers, the demand of the people is far beyond the infrastructure in
place, information and communication technology has proving to be efficient
in delivering adequate service in health sector to the people in various
Local Government as it has proven in other Countries like Indian, California.
As
the state grew in population, the need for professional and qualified doctors
and nurses are needed to supply quality service in rural area to the people
which is the major problem faced by the Cross River State government. For this
to be addressed there is need for internet based health service to reach the
rural or remote unban area over a broadband service to the people. Internet
based services will supplement or cater for insufficiency of doctors in the
state and making the people have access to expertise’s available anywhere. This
amount to bringing Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists close to the people for health
issue by using ICT tools.
Quick
access to health service is another advantage of internet based health care
service which allow patient to have
fast care service. This will facilitate improvement in the health sector of the
state and bring development in every aspect of the state as a result of
Telemedicine.
Continuity
is another factor to be considered in implementing internet based health care
in the state. As much as there is infrastructure in place and efficient policy
in place, there will be continuity in service of the internet based health
care.
CTEC
highlighted benefits of Tele-health as “Reduces
barriers to access, Increases efficiency for providers, Reduces overall health
care costs, Reduces delays in care, Retains resources locally, Increases
patient satisfaction, Improves quality of care (Consultant and primary provider
communication, Education to providers), Improves health outcomes, Virtual
accessibility “
Achieving
this goal can only be done through public-private partnership, government
partnering with private sector to bring competitive market in health sector and
by adequate and efficient policy. (Christine Martin, 2009)
It’s
obvious in our world today that people are migrating from the remote-urban area
to the urban city as a result of having access to good health services. What is
the point of moving from one place to another if services looked for are
present in the area. I simply recommend telemedicine to the Cross River State
to circulate health services to her people by investing in internet based
health service as a result of recent investment in ICT infrastructures, not only
the city should be focus on but all the
rural areas in Cross River.
Although,
there is only one major problem facing in Nigeria which is unstable power
sector, but as a result there are other ways to lightening the city “solar” to
provide this great service to everyone in Cross river State, Nigeria. All the
above points’ emphasis is toward creating a future development in health sector
which is based on information and communication technology to ease the people
difficulties on health issue.
Reference:
·
CRSG sign agreement with MTN Communication Nigeria
Limited to Invest N1 billion into communication and broadband infrastructure in
Calabar (www.crrossriverstate.gov.ng)
·
Developing A Telemedicine Program, The California Telemedicine & eHealth
Center
April 16, 2009
Comments
Post a Comment