Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations
1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
2 Student Research Network, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
3 College Research and Innovation Hub (CRIH), Nigeria
4 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
5 Slum and Rural Health Initiative, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
* Corresponding Author
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.
Williams SY, Adeyemi SO, Eyitayo JO, Odeyemi OE, Dada OE, Adesina MA, et al. Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations. EUROPEAN J MED ED TE. 2020;13(4):em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572
Williams, S. Y., Adeyemi, S. O., Eyitayo, J. O., Odeyemi, O. E., Dada, O. E., Adesina, M. A., & Akintayo, A. D. (2020). Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations.
European Journal of Medical and Educational Technologies, 13(4), em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572
Williams, S. Y., Adeyemi, S. O., Eyitayo, J. O., Odeyemi, O. E., Dada, O. E., Adesina, M. A., and Akintayo, A. D. (2020). Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations.
European Journal of Medical and Educational Technologies, 13(4), em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572
Williams SY, Adeyemi SO, Eyitayo JO, et al. Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations.
EUROPEAN J MED ED TE. 2020;13(4), em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572
Williams, Shekinah Yobuh, Shalom Oluwafunke Adeyemi, James Oluwadara Eyitayo, Olubunmi Emmanuel Odeyemi, Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada, Miracle Ayomikun Adesina, and Abiodun David Akintayo. "Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations".
European Journal of Medical and Educational Technologies 2020 13 no. 4 (2020): em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572
Williams, Shekinah Yobuh et al. "Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations".
European Journal of Medical and Educational Technologies, vol. 13, no. 4, 2020, em2018.
https://doi.org/10.30935/ejmets/8572