Key Points
- Mobile health platforms connect patients and doctors remotely.
- AI tools enable fast and accurate disease detection in underserved areas.
- Drones overcome logistics to deliver critical medical supplies.
There are many issues affecting Africa’s health care system right from infrastructure to human resource. Nevertheless, health tech solutions have come out as key weapons in tackling these problems due to insistencies of positive change in healthcare throughout the continent. Here are five health technologies that are already implemented across different African countries and are significantly affecting the lives of millions of people.
1. Mobile Health (mHealth) Platforms
Mobile health platforms have become a necessity in delivering health care in African continent where, access to the conventional units is often times almost impossible; this is especially in the rural and remote areas. According to Tech Ceos ,These platforms use the inherent factor of mobile phone usage to close this gap between patient and doctor. In Kenya and South Africa, there is M-TIBA and Hello Doctor that are functional means through which people get healthcare.
In Kenya, M-TIBA allows saving and paying for healthcare among the population using a mobile wallet, guaranteeing their access to vital health services. However, Hello Doctor which is operating in several countries enables users to consult the doctors using mobile applications of SMS without necessarily travelling to the doctors’ physical location.
These platforms also provide important health education on issues of maternal health, HIV/AIDS prevention and chronic illnesses. Further, the use of the automated appointment reminder system greatly enhanced treatment compliance and vaccines, tering preventable diseases.
2. AI-Powered diagnostics
AI is transforming diagnostic efficiency in Africa because doctors are scarce, and setting up laboratories is expensive. Modern artificial intelligent technologies are applied to early diagnostics and increase the accuracy of diagnostic results. In Uganda for instance, diagnostic systems to interpret chest x-rays to diagnose tuberculosis have been deployed, and, depending on these, diagnostic time and errors have been greatly reduced.
In the same way, portable diagnostic kits armed with AI are being used in Nigeria and Ghana to diagnose malaria, COVID-19, among other diseases, in real-time.
These tools enable the community health workers treat patients on time especially from the rural, less developed areas. AI has also been of significant value in disease management because, despite not requiring complex lab setups to operate, it provides near accuracies to other expensive testing equipment. Health with solutions like Ada Health and AI for TB Diagnosis are utilizing the faculties of health streams across the continent and faster medical solutions.
3. Drones for Medical Supply Delivery
According to Lse blogs, Drone has significantly transformed the medical supply chain in Africa more so in Rwanda, Ghana, and Malawi where access to good roads is almost impaired. One pioneer example that has revolutionized the market in Rwanda is the Zipline drone delivery system where it has become easy for the transportation of life saving products such as blood, vaccines and antivenoms to distant clinics.
Since applying this technology, the response times during disasters have been cut out drastically with many lives being saved.
For example, in rural Ghana, drones are employed to transport reproductive health commodities to many small health facilities so that mothers and their newborns may receive efficient and timely care. Originally conceived as a delivery method borne out of geography and logistics constraints, drones are now enmeshed within the health systems of many African countries, bringing essential medical commodities to the accessing districts.
4. Telemedicine solutions
As stated by Forbes, Telemedicine is quickly taking hold in Africa and creating a situation where one does not have to travel to the clinic or a hospital to meet a doctor. This is especially the case in decentralized areas where there is a chronic shortage of specialists.
Although Babyl Health is still operating in Kigali the company has been able to offer virtual consultations to millions of Rwandans where they can speak to licensed doctors through their mobile phones.
Likewise in Nigeria, Dokita offer affordable telemedicine, the patients are able to speak with specialists and even receive prescriptions.
These solutions also feature tracking of other chronic illnesses including diabetes and hypertension through wearable technology, for individual with needs of constant medical attention.
Further, telemedicine systems promote integration of local physicians and health care organizations with practitioners from all over the world, enhancing the quality of health care services offered to patients of even the most distant and remote areas.
5. Solar-Powered Health Systems
Limited access to reliable power supply continues to be a major obstacle to health centres in many regions of Africa especially in the hinterland. The use of renewable solar energy alternative in health technologies has become a viable solution in maintaining continuity in healthcare. In Uganda and Tanzania for instance, organizations have brought in “suitcase” that generates electric power for necessary medical equipment from solar energy.
These solar solutions include light and power for vaccine refrigeration units, diagnostic tools and life support equipment such as incubators so as to enable uninterrupted heath care services.
As stated by AP news, Solar power also has its environmental impact by decreasing the consumption of diesel generators, and meeting the increase in demands for environmentally sustainable power across the globe. Mitigating energy issues has led to the increase of health facility’s access by installing solar power systems in some Africa’s hardest reach and improving health care in general.
Mobile health platforms, smart diagnostics, delivery via drones, telehealth, and solar-based systems have greatly impacted healthcare service in African villages and towns.
These technologies are not only filling the gap but are also improving the quality of the healthcare facilities. As they expand across the continent, they are seen as a possible preview of what that future looks like: every single African, wherever he may be, has a chance at a life-saving healthcare solution.
