Photo: Daktari Smart
New telemedicine technology, Daktari Smart, aims to close the gap between child patients and medical specialists in rural Kenya, targeting over 32,000 children in Homabay, Samburu, Baringo and Lamu counties in its first phase of operation. Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board estimate the current patient-to-doctor ratio is 6,355 to 1. Electronic devices such as a stethoscope, vital sign monitor, derma scope, electrocardiogram, and ultrasound machine are attached to a monitor so specialists can see the patient's information in real-time. The M-PESA Foundation invested over Ksh 168 million (about $1.4 million USD) in the project, partnering with Gertrude's Hospital Foundation, Gertrude's Hospital and Safaricom PLC. The system's bandwidth requirement is low, ranging from 512kps to 2Mbps, making it suitable for rural areas with poor internet connectivity.
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