Map of the Developing World
Global Health System Strengthening
This initiative was created to bring access to digital X-ray and telemedicine to first referral hospitals and clinics in the developing world. Despite decades of efforts aimed at addressing the problem of limited access, little progress has been made because many efforts have lacked the coordination necessary to deploy and sustain the systems. When systems have been deployed, they have frequently fallen into disuse because the technology was overly sophisticated and/or training and maintenance were not provided. Our process overcomes these and other hurdles to sustainability.
Our Sites
- Salud y Bienestar Clinica Municipal: Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Dr. Gustavo Casteneda Palacios Hospitalito: Rio Hondo, Guatemala
- Clanwilliam: Johannesburg, South Africa
The Global Need
Alleviating illness and poverty one patient and hospital at a time:
Two-thirds of the world lacks access to basic X-ray services, that translates to a global need for approximately 80,000 x-ray systems worldwide. The lack of available imaging units and additional geographic, economic, and political challenges in developing countries are often times viewed as being too daunting to address. In these areas, there are usually limited public health care funds. These funds are typically focused on immediate needs rather than medical infrastructure investments. This in turn ignores the issue of high equipment expenses and rates of malfunction and the lack of health care professionals and trained personnel who can operate and maintain sophisticated (often donated) X-ray units. These communities may also suffer from wartime conditions, political corruption, fluctuating electrical power sources and unfavorable climate conditions.
Developing sustainable solutions to prevent health and economic problems:
By strengthening health care services in developing countries with affordable access to digital X-ray and telemedicine systems, we can provide solutions to health care problems facing underserved communities. The proper diagnosis by means of a digital image can greatly reduce recovery time from illnesses. This in turn lowers the number of disability days and missed work, all of which contribute to reduced economic productivity and job loss, leading to poverty. By making these services available, we can improve upon the resources for diagnosis and treatment for the greater population in these communities.
Securing health everywhere by improving health in one village:
In this era of globalization, disease in one part of the world is easily communicable to people around the world. The simple lesson is that health matters everywhere. Though our services focus directly on underserved communities, we have the opportunity to indirectly advance and secure the health and welfare of societies worldwide.
