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Measuring The Ict Maturity Level Of The Nigerian Primary Health Sector
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
According to Frienzel (2006), ICT is a
term that describes the discipline encompassing computer systems,
telecommunication networks and media applications. Information and
communication technology is an umbrella term that encompasses all
communication devices and applications such as computers, network
hardware and software as well as the various services and applications
associated with them. Since the 1950s which saw the rise of ICT and
related technologies, many innovations and inventions have arisen using
ICT as a basis, from mining and exploration to business and commerce,
its inventions are endless and have improved performance and
productivity in many sectors of the economy. Most countries are at some
stage of health sector reform, trying to provide expanded and equitable
access to quality services while reducing or at least controlling the
rising cost of health care. ICTs have the potential to make a major
contribution to improving access and quality of services. The health
sector has always relied on technologies. According to World Health
Organization (2004), they form the backbone of the services to prevent,
diagnose and treat illness and diseases. Advances in information and
communication each technology in the last 20th century have led to
ability to more accurately profile individual health risk (Walson,
2003), to understand better basic physiological and pathologic process
(Lauman, 2002) and to revolutionize diagnosis through new imaging and
scanning technologies such technological development, however, demands
and increased responsibility of practitioners and policy makers for the
appropriateness of new technologies (Hofmanns 2002). The method people
use to communicate with each other also changed significantly, mobile
telephony, electronic mail and video conferencing offer new options for
sharing perspective. Digital technologies are making for visual images
and voice of people more accessible through radio, to video, portable
disk players and the internet, that change the opportunities for people
are share opinions, experience and knowledge. Reliable information
and effective communication are crucial elements in public health
practices. Sadly, in most poor and developing nations, epidemics, ill
health, diseases and high mortality rates are still raining trends.
There is still low access to basic health services and facilities
especially in rural areas and sadly many communities have deficiencies
in qualitative and quantitative service delivery. The use of appropriate
technologies can increase the quality and the reach of both information
and communication. On one hand, the knowledge base is about
information, which enables people to improve their own health. On the
other hand, social organizations help people to achieve health through
the health care systems and public health processes. The ability to
impoverish the communities to access services and engage with and demand
a health sector that respond to their priorities and needs is
importantly influenced by wide information and communication processes
meditated by ICTs. There has been considerable international discussion
about the potential of ICTs to make a major impact in improving health
and well being of poor and marginalized populations. Combating poverty
and encouraging sustainable development and governance, used
effectively, ICTs have the enormous potentials as tools to increase
information flows and dissemination of evidence- based knowledge and
empower citizens. However, despite all its potentials, a problem
(challenge) is that ICTs have not been widely used as tools that advance
equitable healthcare access. It is therefore of great necessity that we
measure the maturity level of ICTs in the health sector, since knowing
the maturity level will help to identify its current profile; to define
its objectives for integrating ICT in health. The assessment of ICT
maturity level will help to set benchmarks and goals for the future as
part of their strategic planning and funding priorities.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a term which refers to the collecting, storing, editing and passing on of information in various electronical forms. Increasingly rapid advances in ICT can have profound impact in the way health care and its administration is managed and could allow health workers to have access to a world beyond the hospital. It has the potential to transform the nature and process of the entire healthcare structure and provide better healthcare delivery system. ... Continue reading---
