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WITH
TRAINING and careful control of a video camera a clinic and its patients can
be watched by a distant doctor while communicating over a wireless
telephone.
Report in the Daily Dispatch of East London:
Rural Tsilitwa residents stunned
by CSIR tele-medicine project
http://www.dispatch.co.za
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Chris Morris of the CSIR's consortium for telehealth
illustrated wireless communication to the Acacia conference in presenting a
rural community case study. He identified how the sister at the Tsilitwa
Clinic became the “send site” while the doctor at the Sulenkama Hospital,
the “receive site” 20km away.
Simultaneous communication and interactivity was achieved,
and digital camera pictures could be emailed for detailed reference.
Morris said the aim of the project is to develop a viable
innovative communications infrastructure using renewable energy. The project
includes data, voice and video communications.
Communications are established by connecting the ICT hub that
is the core, to other cell nodes such as the school, the hospital, and the
police station in the community. These wireless connections enable the
sharing of data and knowledge. They can be configured from point to point
enabling the spread of the wireless from one community or village to the
next.
“The case study identifies the use of mix and match
technologies, places emphasis on empowerment and training as well as
management and maintenance as the key to sustainability, Morris said.
“Continued monitoring and evaluation is important as we reflect outcomes
that impact directly on local community development and empowerment.”
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