Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations
Shekinah Yobuh Williams 1 2 3, Shalom Oluwafunke Adeyemi 2 4, James Oluwadara Eyitayo 1, Olubunmi Emmanuel Odeyemi 1 3 * , Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada 1, Miracle Ayomikun Adesina 5, Abiodun David Akintayo 1 3
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1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria2 Student Research Network, University of Ibadan, Nigeria3 College Research and Innovation Hub (CRIH), Nigeria4 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria5 Slum and Rural Health Initiative, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease was discovered first in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. It was later declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 11th of March, 2020. COVID-19, as popularly called, has spread rapidly to about 213 countries of the world and 2 international conveyances. There are over 5.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infection as at May 28th, 2020 and more than 358 thousand death cases reported globally. This staggering statistics has called for drastic and concerted efforts from governments and health workers around the globe to combat COVID-19 pandemic. With the increasing need for effective prevention of spread of the virus and development of a cure and a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible, mobile health technology with all its benefits may just be the answer.

Mobile Health technology has been a vital tool in creation of awareness and dissemination of information; as a means of curtailing the spread of the coronavirus from person to person; tracking of infected persons, and reduction of person-to-person contact, virtual screening and remote monitoring of patients. Despite the aforementioned uses, the challenge of cost, information privacy and less knowledge of the application of mhealth remains. It is therefore recommended that the potential of low-cost mobile technology be maximized; laws and regulation as regard privacy and confidentiality be set and funds be made available by the government.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Review Article

EUROPEAN J MED ED TE, 2020, Volume 13, Issue 4, Article No: em2018

https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572

Publication date: 07 Oct 2020

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