Vodafone Uganda CEO urges medical practitioners To embrace ICT

Allan Richardson, the Chief Executive Officer Vodafone Uganda, has underscored the significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in enhancing the delivery of quality health care to Ugandans.

“At Vodafone, we believe that m-Health and e-Health present a unique opportunity to move away from a focus on treatment of diseases to management of health on a regular basis. In developed markets and some of the emerging markets, there are many success stories of patients being empowered and connected to their physicians to manage their health together,” said Mr Richardson in his opening remarks at the 4th Edition of the Vodafone Power Talks at the Kampala Serena Hotel yesterday.

Mr Richardson said access to up-to-date and relevant health information and knowledge by patients, health personnel, service providers, decision makers as well as researchers and funding institutions is vital for improved delivery of health services.

“While ICTs have the potential to be greatly beneficial for the health sector of Uganda, their success is dependent on access to affordable data services, connected devices and the development of the required software, platforms and apps to enable access in addition to education of both healthcare professionals and patients on the benefits of m-Health,” he said.

Key discussants at the event included; Mr Andrew Lutwama, the eHealth Advisor at the Ministry of Health, Dr Paul Okello Aliker, the CEO Dental Studio, Mr Nathan Wasolo, the Route to Market Lead, East Africa, Mr Alfred Wise, Living Goods Country Director, Mrs Judy Mugoya, the Smart Applications Country Manager and Ms Beatrice Bonita Nanziri, the AfriGal Tech and mDex founder.

The discussions were under the theme; “Improving access and delivery of healthcare through ICT”.

Some of the innovations that were exhibited are; Matibabu: A non-invasive technology for Malaria diagnosis, WinSenga – Foetal Heart Rate Monitor; a smartphone-based ultrasound alternative which aims to allow midwives and medical personnel, especially in low resource settings who rely on subjectively accurate diagnosis via a fetoscope – an 18th century invention to more accurately and effectively monitor the health of unborn children around the time of birth, Macotuba; a mobile based application (android) designed to diagnose Tuberculosis (TB) by using a mobile phone and breath sensor called the TBNose and a blood pressure & glucose strip monitor that offers a patient-doctor integrated service allowing the doctor to monitor a patient while the patient is at home or another location.

More than 200 guests drawn from government, the private sector, research organizations, academia, health and ICT sector attended the Vodafone Power Talks.