INTRODUCTION Sub-Saharan Africa is a resource-constrained region that suffers a top-heavy share of the world's burden of disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 12% of the world's population live in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the region suffers 27% of the world's total burden of disease.[1] To make the matter worse, the same region with a high burden of diseases still lags in health information technology (HIT). The HIT which is important in ensuring improved patient care.[2,3-7] Timely as well as accurate patient information is essential to meet the health care needs of any patient in any population.[6,8] Physicians and other care providers require high-quality information to make sound clinical decisions; however, their
Introduction “Health informatics is the science that underlies the academic investigation and practical application of computing and communications technology to healthcare, health education and biomedical research” (UofV, 2012). This broad area of inquiry incorporates the design and optimization of information systems that support clinical practice, public health and research; understanding and optimizing the way in which biomedical data and information systems are used for decision-making; and using communications and computing technology to better educate healthcare providers, researchers and consumers. Although there are many benefits of bringing in electronic health systems there are glaring issues that associate with these systems. The
Health informatics is best described as the point where information science, medicine, and healthcare all meet. It encompasses the resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and the use of information in health and biomedicine. Health informatics incorporates tools such as: computers (hardware and softwar...
Unfortunately, the quality of health care in America is flawed. Information technology (IT) offers the potential to address the industry’s most pressing dilemmas: care fragmentation, medical errors, and rising costs. The leading example of this is the electronic health record (EHR). An EHR, as explained by HealthIT.gov (n.d.), is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It includes, but is not limited to, medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans. The EHR, then, serves as a resource that aids clinicians in decision-making by providing comprehensive patient information.
Africa is the second largest of the earth's seven continents, covering about twenty-two percent of the world's total land area. From its northern most point, to its southern most tip is the distance of nearly five thousand miles. Africa is both north and south of the equator. The Atlantic Ocean is located west of the continent, and the Indian Ocean is on the east. Width of the continent is also nearly five thousand miles. Although Africa is so large, much of it is inhabitable. Desert soils, which have little organic content, cover large areas. The Sahara Desert, in the northern part, covers more than one fourth of Africa, and the Kalahari Desert is in the southern part of the continent. These two deserts are a natural detriment to the African continent because they make it difficult to reach the inland where most of the people live. Although Africa is relatively close to Europe, travel by land over the Sahara desert is very prohibitive. Another topographical feature that also isolates the central region of Africa is the coastline.
There are many factors that influence the political reshaping of Africa. The strength of their outcome varies from country to country, and is not linear. As we can see, different countries tend to focus on different factors as being the most crucial in democratization processes. As it is impossible to thoroughly analyze all of them, those that are most often seen as the crucial ones in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa will be discussed, which are Soc-economic development and Post Cold war protest.
Deep in the sub-Saharan land in Africa, is the country of Malawi. Little was known about this mysterious country until the early 1900s. Now we know Malawi has an abundance of rich culture, filled with fascinating history from prehistoric times to the present.
Kenya is a shining gem in Africa because of its many exports and interesting clothing style. Due to its very fair government and a past with no civil wars it stands apart from many of the other African countries. Kenya, though a pretty new country, has huge natural landforms and bodies of water, exports flowers to most of the world, and a rich traditional dress and dance culture. . Its unique past and hopeful future show hope to other struggling countries in Africa and the whole world.
As the youngest country in the world, South Sudan has faced a long list of hardships due to this nation's geographic profile. Situated in eastern Africa, South Sudan borders Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, the Central African Republic to the west, and its former counterpart Sudan to its north. About the size of Texas with half its population, South Sudan is a relatively spread out country with 84% of its population living rurally in 2013. As of 2014 South Sudan had a population density of 18 capita per square kilometer, ranking it 179th globally in population density (9). South Sudan is home to one of the world's largest swamps, the Sudd, which covers more
Niger is located in Western Africa, between Sahel and the Sahara. Since the Sahara covers sixty-six percent of the country, Niger is one of the driest countries in the world. On the hottest months, from March to June, temperatures can reach up to 122 Fahrenheit. On the other hand, during the night time temperature can drastically drop to below freezing levels. Miles of sand dunes cover northern Niger, but vegetation is almost non-existent. The famous air mountains are located in central Niger. They cover 32,000 sq mi and help support the farming communities with their “berly-there” vegetation. Central Niger has semi-fertile land allowing oases and vegetation to live. Southern Niger, the most prominent to grassland and plants, is located in
For many people around the world, mentioning Ethiopia brings to mind the 1984 famine, which was a significant famine in the history of Ethiopia. Which is estimated to have killed over one million people. The specter of the disaster haunts the country’s international image. It is true that Ethiopia has its share of natural and man made problems and it is equally true that Ethiopia is also blessed with many unique natural, cultural, and historical wonders. Of all African countries, Ethiopia has indigenous cultures that are not affected by modern civilization and yet are rich with traditions and values of life three thousands of years old. From the rich story to the rich culture, Ethiopia is truly beyond argument
In the progressive age of computer advancement and technology also comes the hurried approach in many aspects of life. Advancement of technology has hit the health care industry with a bang! Computers line hospital hallways. Doctors treat patients with cell phone in one hand and a stethoscope in the other. Costs are rising to keep up with the latest and greatest health care
Human beings, like a lot of animals, get to where they are by migration. Which is the process of a species or part of a species moving from one place to another. Due to this, Humans are now a world dominating biped species. Early humans evolved to modern Homo Sapiens around 200,000 years ago, according to the Out of Africa theory.
Angola is a country located in Southern Africa that was plagued by civil war for decades. Over the many decades it has been estimated that four million Angolans were displaced having to leave their homes for to seek a safe environment. In 2012 these Angolan refugees, some of whom have been living abroad for decades, have lost their status as refugees in their host countries as a result of the improving conditions at home. However since the cessation of civil unrest the number of refugees and internally displaced Angolan persons has slowly been on the rise. Despite all of the improvements that have been made there still exists a very widespread poverty. Angola has been injured and scarred from the more than four decades of
From state and federal levels, the healthcare industry has come a very long way, experiencing changes along the way. The development of advanced technology that has enhanced the quality of healthcare delivery systems will help all patients to be able to benefit. Doctors are able to access patient records at a faster rate and respond to their patients in a much more timely fashion. E-mail, electronic transfer of records and telemedicine will give all patients and physicians the tools needed to be more efficient, deliver quality care and deliver quality telecommunication at a faster pace than before.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been shown to be increasingly important in the education or training and professional practice of healthcare. This paper discusses the impacts of using ICT in Healthcare and its administration. Health Information technology has availed better access to information, improved communication amongst physicians, clinicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers facilitating continuing professional development for healthcare professionals, patients and the community as a whole. This paper takes a look at the roles, benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare services and goes on to outline the ICT proceeds/equipment used in the health sector such as the