E-Health: How internet connectivity is transforming lives across the globe

Access to Internet is access to knowledge, there is no doubt about that.


Increased Internet connectivity in the developing world would increase health literacy significantly and, according to a 2014 Deloitte study, save up to two and a half million lives by increasing knowledge about basic health and sanitation.

The study even determined that the life expectancy of over two million HIV/AIDS patients could be significantly increased because of better adherence to treatment via Internet databases and monitoring. While the benefits are due to increase exponentially in coming years, web-based health developments have already begun to save lives.

For much of the world, access to qualified physicians and health experts can be a challenge, particularly in rural and remote areas. Computerized networks and Internet connections allow for long-distance training, accurate databases, up-to-date research information, remote diagnosing, and even real-time consultation.

Internet connection also has its advantages in public health. Take Nigeria for instance.

The sweetpotato is an important root crop in Nigeria. Nigeria is the second largest producer of the crop in Sub Saharan Africa. It has the ability to thrive in marginal soil, while its broad agro-ecological adaptability makes it a food security crop because it can be grown in all of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is developed and bio-fortified with vitamin A by the International Potato Center (CIP) and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI). The best thing about OFSP? It only takes 125 grams of OFSP to supply the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for children and non-lactating women.

The NRCRI is helping smallholder farmers and targeted beneficiaries, specifically women and children, to fight vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa. The CIP is also working in collaboration with eHealth Africa (eHA) to jointly set up the OFSP quality declared planting materials at centrally located multiplication plots/net houses in Bayero University Kano.

This has a huge potential of dealing with Nigeria's nutrition crisis.

Through technology and research, eHA and our partners look forward to seeing how the OFSP combats malnutrition and improves the overall well-being of the Nigerian people.

Resource: eHealthAfrica