Philips SA on Friday debuted its mobile clinics project, aiming to deliver basic primary healthcare in areas where access to healthcare is limited, focusing on maternal and child care.
The initial mobile clinic, custom-built on a mid-sized truck frame, consists of a maternal and child care section and a dental care section and moves between the Johannesburg areas of Diepsloot, Cosmo City and Orange Farm.
The maternal and child care section is equipped with Philips VISIQ technology: a tablet-sized ultrasound system with a touch-screen interface, offering similar image quality to the cart-based ultrasound systems typically found in hospitals, says Jose Fernandes, general manager at Philips Healthcare Southern Africa.
The device's battery life will see it through over two-and-a-half hours of back-to-back scanning, he adds.
"Women in semi-urban, rural or underserved areas often die due to preventable complications during childbirth as they have no access to ultrasound screenings to detect critical conditions. Many of these deaths can be prevented with basic imaging technology used during pregnancy," says Fernandes.
As this technology is expensive, there is a growing global focus on more cost-effective solutions which rely less heavily on power supply, he continues.
Mobile media
Distributing educational media to patients is an idea for the clinic's future, "once the staff has gathered information about the patient base," such as the devices they use and their preferred forms of media, says Fernandes.
As of yet, the clinic has a flat-screen TV attached to its side, which is used to air educational videos for expectant mothers while they wait in line, he says.
The mobile clinic's patients will initially be informed of its arrival by word of mouth and from community leaders, and later via SMS once they have visited the clinic and their details have been added to its database, Fernandes explains.
Cost-effective relief
"Building a free-standing [medical] facility is hugely expensive, whereas a mobile clinic is a cost-effective solution that will bring access to quality healthcare to those in need," says Fernandes.
The mobile clinic, which aims to treat hundreds of patients every month, hopes to take the pressure off staff at oversubscribed fixed clinics in its target areas, Fernandes continues.
It will provide particular relief to pregnant women by reducing the time and effort they spend travelling to fixed clinics, as the mobile clinic will target residents who live far away from the fixed clinics in their areas, he adds.
The vehicle is staffed by an all-women team of a registered nurse, a dental therapist, a dental assistant and a driver-come-assistant.
If this pilot phase is successful it is likely more clinics will be rolled out, Fernandes assures.
The project is in collaboration with the Rhiza Foundation, Nozala Trust and Industrial Development Corporation, with Philips as the technology partner.
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