Logistics solutions provider Imperial is continuing its support of the Unjani Clinic network in SA through the donation of R1 million towards the purchase of 15 wireless handheld ultrasound devices, including the training of 120 nurses on the use of this device.
Unjani Clinics is a network of black women-owned and -operated primary healthcare clinics that provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to communities in low-income areas.
Its network of 88 clinics complements the re-engineering of SA’s healthcare system by creating community-based healthcare structures at the point of care.
“The Unjani Clinics network already performs an estimated 40 000 scans a year, primarily for antenatal care,” says Mohammed Akoojee, group chief executive officer at Imperial.
“The purchase of these point-of-care-ultrasound devices will allow Unjani to provide patients with diagnostic testing at the point of care, minimising the delay between the onset of symptoms and initiation of definitive therapy.”
According to Imperial, the point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) devices are well-suited to the clinic environment because they are low-maintenance and designed for quickly producing high-resolution images, which are then transmitted wirelessly to most iOS or Android smart devices.
“The POCUS devices are designed for scanning all parts of the patient’s torso, including the heart,” says Akoojee.
“The convex array provides outstanding resolution for abdominal and lung images. As such, this initiative will not only make a positive difference to the health of women in the communities that the Unjani Clinics serve, but also to all patients requiring such diagnostic services.”
Lynda Toussaint, CEO of Unjani Clinics, adds: “We are extremely grateful to Imperial for their continued support of Unjani Clinics.
“The POCUS equipment being donated is state-of-the-art and will most definitely become a talking point in the communities in which we implement them. We look forward to further enhancing services and access to affordable ultrasound services in more communities of South Africa.”
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