Shyama Janaka Mahakalanda
Fiji National University, Fiji
Title: Using Google Maps To Monitor The Demand For Preventive Health Care By Geographical Location: Experience From Fiji, Micronesia, Palau And Marshall Islands Pilot Projects
Biography
Biography: Shyama Janaka Mahakalanda
Abstract
The shortages in healthcare are many in the remote islands in Pacific. This project was to identify the demand for services by the geographical location in order to plan services to deliver. The other intention was to relocate redundant services to more useful locations. In all the countries mentioned above, patient records were categorised by diagnosis and demographics and were plotted on google maps. This was done because we could not afford GIS and google maps could be updated online and real time using smart phones. The maps were then used to identify diseases by location and plan services to be delivered. The other advantage was the outcomes could be recorded on the maps itself and the records get updated real time. We could even monitor spread of some diseases. By using free software we managed to establish the different diseases present in localities and then decide the secondary prevention package to be delivered. Due to the maps we are now able to monitor service delivery by the very household of the patient. It was also possible to plan stronger primary prevention packages because we were aware of the disease in different locations.