Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-07 11:58:16
Maryanne Mwangi, a student in the Master of Science in Data Analytics at KCA University, has developed a mobile application called ‘Jumuia’ to address the gaps in the health system. This application is designed to streamline and automate the referral process between low-resource setting facilities and central hospitals, specifically for surgical procedures.
The app offers a user-friendly platform, aiming to improve communication, minimize referral delays – especially in emergency and high-priority cases – and ensure prompt access to appropriate surgical services. Clinicians in lower-resource facilities often face challenges in performing specialized surgical procedures that go beyond the capabilities of their own establishments. As a result, they must refer patients to more advanced facilities equipped with the expertise and resources to handle complex surgical procedures.
Jumuia allows clinicians to log in and input patient details through registration and referral forms. This information, along with the patient’s details, is then uploaded to the hospital’s server. The clinical team can then access the referral form, contact the patient, and initiate the process for the required surgical procedure. With the app, a clinician in any part of Kenya and beyond can refer a patient for specialized surgery to health facilities. It is available on the Google Play store.
The app is critical because senior surgeons are mainly located in Nairobi, where appropriately equipped facilities are available. Jumuia gives hospitals the ability to create visibility for their surgical department, enabling them to serve as many Kenyans as possible and establish lasting interfaculty relationships to support and complement healthcare delivery.
Maryanne Mwangi plans to patent the app to enable its customization for various healthcare setups and facilities specializing in surgical referrals. Currently, the app is designed to exclusively serve Jumuia Hospitals, but the long-term goal is to extend its reach to a broader spectrum of healthcare institutions, including public, private, and church-based facilities.
Her advice to young innovators is to come up with solutions for the problems communities around the country and beyond face. She emphasizes that understanding real-world challenges empowers us to use technology as a tool to create lasting solutions. By gaining technical knowledge, staying persistent, and remaining focused, we can develop solutions that truly matter. Mwangi believes that the current generation can uniquely leverage technology for positive change, especially in sectors like healthcare, where it can save lives.
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