Telemedicine and MHealth in Nigeria: the COVID-19 challenges
As the world calls her forces in the raging war against the Coronavirus, the health care sector remains in the center of the cross fire.
According to WHO, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Having emerged from the city of Wuhan, China in 2019, the COVID-19 epidemic has spread to over 70 countries around the world with an estimated number of over three million confirmed cases and over two hundred thousand deaths.
On the 27th of February 2020, Nigeria recorded its first case of Coronavirus; an Italian citizen who returned from Milan. Following the discovery of the suspected infected person in Lagos state, the state government in liaison with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) took steps to trace contact history of the Italian and commenced quarantine immediately.
Due to laxity in government, actions to ensure the control of the spread of the virus were delayed coupled with the recklessness of Nigerians as it regards their health practices and personal hygiene; these over time, led to the widespread of the virus within a span of one week. New cases are being reported daily in different states across the country.
It’s been nine weeks since the first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was discovered and six weeks since the government eventually closed all borders and issued a STAY AT HOME order in order to prevent and control the spread of the virus. The lockdown restricts movements with exceptions to the purchase and or delivery of essentials such as food and medicine.
The healthcare sector in Nigeria is still at the traditional stage, with so many traditional practices yet to phase out.
There have been very few innovations and advancements in healthcare in the country even as the world has embraced the future; Telemedicine.
Telemedicine and Mobile health are yet to be accepted and used by either Healthcare providers or patients. However, there are some MHealth apps which have made an impact on online delivery of health care services across the country. Check them out
Metrics for MHealth Apps and Telemedicine Platforms in Nigeria
Statistics gathered from an MHealth app shows a percentage increase of 400% in downloads since the first confirmed case in Nigeria. However comparing this to the percentage increase in infected cases, the figures aren’t impressive.
Take a look at the chart below:
Download stats for Hudibia :
The first chart shows download statistics for Hudibia on the Google Playstore between February 2 to May 3. The upward slope indicates that more people have seen the need for virtual and distant healthcare services during this global epidemic. However, the increase in download is slow and less than it should be considering that infection rates have spiked within the same period.
The second chart shows download stats for Hudibia on the Apple Store.
COVID-19 Infection Rates between FEB 27 to MAY 08
A critical look at the COVID-19 infection chart will give you an insight to the gap in the adaptation of telemedicine to healthcare practices. The infection rates continue to go up yet the percentage increase in doctor consulting app downloads have increased but not at a commendable or responsive rate.
Daily, there are at least a hundred (100) new confirmed cases across the country meanwhile the weekly average number of downloads and subscriptions to telemedicine platforms is a sparsely fifty (50)
Moreover the rate adaptation of Telemedicine across the world continues to rise as people have recognized a safe way to avoid physical contact thereby preventing further spread of the CoronaVirus.
The Massinc Polling Group carried out a survey on residents in Massachusetts USA. This survey shows the rate in adaptation of telemedicine amidst the pandemic.
This survey was carried out in April 2020 and shows the percentage increase in the use of telemedicine since the outbreak began.
What are the challenges of Telemedicine during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Here goes!
Lack of patient awareness.
Poor funding of telemedicine companies and MHealth app companies.
Lack of medical workforce to deliver online health care services.
What are the solutions?
The government as well as Telehealth Companies need to create awareness about telemedicine and distant health care even at grassroot levels. Many patients prefer to sit across from their doctor and see and. hear the words come out from their mouths in person. One can’t deny having the mentality that health services are more effective then.
The importance and advantages of getting people to know about these telemedicine platforms and making them see the importance of using the services during the pandemic can never be overemphasized.
Telemedicine companies in Nigeria lack adequate funding and financial support to cater for the demands of patients and facilities for doctors to deliver online health care services effectively.
In a country with a population of about 200 million people, telemedicine platforms can only boast of no more than 200–300 doctors or less. That means the supply won’t meet the demand. More doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers need to be incorporated into these platforms to ensure a smooth and effective delivery of health care services especially during this pandemic.
Telemedicine is the future of healthcare. Experts have foreseen a minimum of 46% increase in the adoption of telemedicine by 2023 around the world.
Telemedicine in Nigeria has to become a practice well utilized from this very moment.
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