Africa COR P OR AT E
Issue 61 Vol 2 Number 888 2015
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PARTNERSHIPS FOR PREVENTION AND CARE
Creating Innovative Health Response Systems Garance Upham The African Federation for Emergency Medicine Conference Report Using Technology to Fight Ebola Fabienne Ostermeyer
CONTENTS 4 .....
The struggle against antibiotic-resistent epidemics: Garance Upham discusses lessons learnt from Ebola
8 .....
2014 African Federation for Emergency Medicine Conference, report by Tsegaye Girma
12 ...
The Union’s Private-Public Partnership introduces a new treatment for Multidrug-Resistant TB
16 ...
Weapons against Ebola: interview with VISIONMED GROUP’s Fabienne Ostermeyer
Published By Times Publications Group Ltd Publisher - James Norris Editor - Shan Bertelli ASSISTANT Editor - Tsegaye Girma Proof Reader- Alison Walters Coordinator - Aisha Aingal Media Executives - Aster Mengesha, Ashenafi Molla, Milkyas Getachew, Helene Suana Special Project Director - Jian Ping Sun Production - Robert Ellerbeck Publication Partners - Nepad Council, NASME Nigeria, CNBC Africa, BRICS Summit Group. Partnerships for Prevention and Care Africa Health Report is published quarterly. Subscription details can be obtained from Times Publications Group Ltd. at principal commercial offices: 30-32 Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU; Tel: +44 (0) 20 7089 8830 or Fax: +44 (0) 20 7089 8831. Email administration@ times-publications.com or visit our website at www.corporate-africa.com. © Times Publications Group Ltd. 2013 — all rights reserved. First Published in 2013. Distributors in Africa: Shama PLC Tel: +251 11 554 5290, MCS/Caxton International PressTel: +27 11 807 9599, Print Excellence Ltd.Tel: +233 243 213 881, Dominion Bookshop, +233 240 695 791, Publisher’s Distribution Services Tel: +254 20 3222 901, PDS Accountant Tel: +254 20 3222 903, Newsstand Nigeria Tel: +234 802 3382788. Corporate Africa
3
Creating Innovative, Responsive Health Systems Applying the lessons from Ebola in the struggle against antibiotic-resistant epidemics. By Garance Upham, Safe Observer International.
Lack of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) has been a weak link in facing Ebola “My main task in Guinea was to head several teams
fact that the health systems in the three worst-affected
of grave diggers to bury Ebola victims who are more
West African nations have further deteriorated. Health
contagious when they are dead. The problems are many;
professionals are insufficient and overwhelmed, giving
people don’t trust their government, the social fabric is
serious cause for concern if Ebola or another epidemic
coming apart, and the health systems are very different
were to return.
for urban and rural populations, and for rich and poor. The Ebola crisis brings these problems to the fore.”
As is often the case during an epidemic, people with
Elhadj As Sy, General Secretary, Federation of the Red
ailments other than Ebola have died or are suffering
Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
unduly, unable to reach healthcare systems which are burdened by Ebola under worsening social and economic
The Ebola Outbreak
conditions.
Estimates of 21,000 cases and 8,000 deaths from
4
Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, have led
The WHO’s future
to pessimistic conclusions. However, the good news
The crucial question about the WHO’s global responsibility
is that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Bulletin
might now be taken more seriously along with the
epidemiologists’ mathematical model predicting that
decision to build strong health systems. The WHO’s
Ebola could reach 1.4 million cases by the end of
34-member-Executive Board (EB) held an all-day Special
January, 2015, and the World Health Organization’s
Session on Ebola on January 25, 2015. It was only the
(WHO) forecast of 10,000 new cases weekly were both
third time in the organization’s 60-year history that the
proven wrong. As of January 2015, there are only a
EB has held a Special Session. High-level representatives
dozen new cases of Ebola appearing each week, and
were in attendance and ground-breaking decisions on the
the trend appears to be falling. Less encouraging is the
future of disease management and issues surrounding
Corporate Africa
the WHO’s operational capacities and global initiatives
Beyond Ebola: threat of civil unrest
were made.
In addition to Ebola, a food crisis is growing in the three Ebola-hit countries, and destabilization has jeopardized
Military-like Preparedness
industrial production in a region where the threat of
According to Laurie Garrett, from the Council on Foreign
terror from Boko Haram looms. In Guinea, the Ministry
Relations Health Expert, China was able to contain the
of Health explained how they thought the epidemic
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic
had been brought under control and considered closing
within two months by building a first-class hospital
treatment centers, only for a few Ebola contact cases to
within 10 days and repeating the pattern in every region
escape, leading to new outbreaks and hunger through
affected by the disease. Check-points for fever and
loss of employment. It is a situation from which political
quarantines were also set up. This is a good example
instability could arise.
to follow in the case of African epidemics, but would be difficult to implement for many reasons, including lack of
Dr. Remco Van de Pas of the Antwerp Tropical Medicine
finance, skills capacity and cultural beliefs or practices.
Institute, who is carrying out Ebola research in Guinea, reported his shock at the lack of healthcare facilities in the disease’s epicenters, and points to the link with palm
If African healthcare systems were “amplifiers” of Ebola, it is because they are weak and, in some countries, barely existent.
oil productions where workers come into contact with contagious animals, further adding to the risk. A major problem is the tendency to think that Ebola in another country is not one’s concern. In the wake of Ebola, large epidemics of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are growing and it is dangerous to think that problems in Africa are not problems for the US or Europe.
In the wake of the first Macroeconomic and Health
When he discovered the NDM-1 gene (which confers
Summit held in Geneva in 2003, former WHO Director
resistance to the latest class of antibiotics) in the New
General (DG), Dr. Lee Jong-wook, said that he advised
Delhi water system, Dr. Timothy Walsh rang alarm bells
China to learn from SARS and rebuild public health
and called for investment banks to pay attention to
structures to enable the building of a strong public
the need for safe water systems in India. Dame Sally
health system to control epidemics. He also said that
Davies, England’s Chief Medical Office at the WHO, stated
it was unwise of macroeconomic institutions to force
that NDM-1 had travelled to 18 other countries in the
entrenchment of health personnel in Africa because
13 months since Dr. Walsh’s declaration. She said that
vertical disease programs cannot work without solid
antimicrobial resistance is as urgent a matter as climate
horizontal foundations, with strong and well-staffed
change.
health systems. We have entered the “Post-Antibiotic Era,” Margaret Chan Macroeconomic institutions still reason that poor countries
stated at the joint WHO-WTO-WIPO meeting in 2013.
could manage epidemics with outside, case-by-case
Responses to Ebola and the threat of antibiotic-resistant
funding and without public health systems. However,
bacterial diseases, notably the imminent threat of enteric
Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO’s current DG, says that it
diseases, are similar in many ways. They all demand
is doubtful if Official Development Assistance (ODA) and
strong, clean, universal healthcare systems with clean
private philanthropy alone is enough to achieve this,
water, and sanitized infrastructure.
especially in the “post-antibiotic era.” IPC in Healthcare Systems If African healthcare systems were “amplifiers” of Ebola,
Lack of infection control has been the weak link in Ebola
it is because they are weak and, in some countries, barely
according to Dr. Babacar N’Doye. The CDC study, “Cluster
existent. Both national authorities and macroeconomic
of Ebola Cases among Liberian and US Healthcare
institutions have neglected the need for good public
Workers in an Ebola Treatment Unit 2014,” admitted to
health. Poor levels of public health, weak infection
the “amplification” of Ebola by unsafe healthcare settings.
control, and insanitary environments could result in
There is general agreement on the need for Infection
major pandemics.
Prevention and Control (IPC) but very little action.
Corporate Africa
5
Responses to Ebola tends to lean too much on the side of
There has been much talk about the development of
medicines and too little on the preventative side. Africa’s
treatments and vaccines for Ebola, with promises of
big problem is IPC. The rate of nosocomial (disease care)
multimillion dollars and special protection equipment.
infections is far too high and efforts should be made in
Yet, insufficient attention is paid to the reinforcement of
this decade for better infection control. A person with the
health systems and how and what types are required.
flu comes into a health system and catches pneumonia;
It is the weaknesses of these systems in Liberia, Sierra
another with pneumonia comes in and gets Ebola, or HIV.
Leone, and Guinea that has given rise to the Ebola
This is unacceptable according to Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi,
crisis according to Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant
Project Director, CDC Nigeria.
DG (for Health Systems and Innovations). She also stated that there is a need for emphasis on strong
In the study “Lessons from nosocomial viral hemorrhagic
health systems and infection prevention if collapses of
fever outbreaks,” Dr. Susan Fisher-Hoch arrived at a
health systems are to be averted and the Millennium
similar conclusion. Poor people, she said, are uneducated,
Development Goals achieved.
not stupid: even in remote communities they quickly grasp that the hospital are where people become infected with VHFs, so they shun them and hide the sick from medical personnel. This is a major reason why case finding can prove difficult. With the knowledge of this and consequences of poor practices in Africa, and some parts of Asia, she concluded that transmission of blood-borne
Responses to Ebola tend to lean too much on the side of medicines and too little on the preventative side.
viruses in medical facilities is probably common within the endemic care of hemorrhagic fever viruses. Hope for an Ebola-free Africa rests with the general public
Africa could leapfrog into a new era of healthcare
in West African communities who are mounting a great
systems if the necessary resources are put in place.
effort to contain Ebola and medical staff who deserve our
Mobile health delivery systems which can access patients
highest regard for their determination and courage.
in remote areas. Mobile surgery, laboratories, and diagnostics and procedures such as endoscopies at a
From
Ebola
to
antibiotic-resistant
enteric
distance should become an integral part of African health
diseases
systems. Robotics, mobile health delivery systems, and
Very advanced and very old technologies and methods
the internet are a vital in order to achieve this.
need to be used for comprehensive IPC, which is returning as a priority in the Post-Antibiotic Era. Dr.
Healthcare systems characterized by mobility should
Precious Matsoso, Director of the South African Health
become the norm. There is a real need to create
Services, spoke at the Norwegian Institute of Public
blueprints with contribution from public representatives,
Health meeting last year. She said that, in order to
innovation companies, engineers, universities, and field-
prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections
based NGOs. Such new systems would combine primary
in health systems, we need to place emphasis on IPC
community-based
globally because it is central to Health as a Human
technologies. This is feasible, is in everyone’s interest,
Right.
and offers the best protection in line with a well-
care
with
very
advanced
mobile
resourced WHO. Members of other delegations from Africa at the same meeting firmly believed that an Africa-wide effort is long-
Garance Upham is an economist with 30 years’ experience
overdue to fight infection control. Some countries were
in public health, HIV, TB and infection control. She
keen to undertake such an initiative.
is the President of Safe Observer International and a founding member of the World Alliance Against Antibiotic
Strong health systems with adequate resources
Resistance (WAAAR) and “Patients for Patient Safety,” a
Health personnel need to be trained rapidly by the
branch of the World Health Organization Patient Safety
hundreds of thousands and be provided with decent
Program (2004 – Jan, 2014). The views expressed above
wages.
are entirely her own and have not been reviewed by the NGOs mentioned. ■
6
Corporate Africa
Weak Healthcare Systems Causes Epidemics Corporate Africa Correspondent Tsegaye Girma reports from Addis Ababa on the African Federation for Emergency Medicine meeting, and the importance of effective healthcare systems in the prevention of epdemics. Liberia’s post-war healthcare situation share similar features with Sierra Leone. When the country emerged from its 14-year-long civil war, 242 of the 293 public health facilities in operation before the war were rendered
Professor Lee Wallis, President of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine
T
non-functional according to a study published by the WHO in 2010. The study included a survey of health facilities in Nimba County in the north and 43 of the 49 surveyed health facilities did not provide all the basic
he African Federation for Emergency Medicine
services and equipment required, ranging from malaria
(AFEM) held its second annual conference last
treatment to emergency obstetric care. The situation was
November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Challenges
the same for the rest of the country.
and recommendations to proffer effective emergency healthcare across Africa were high on the agenda.
Emergency care in a well-functioning healthcare system enables healthcare workers to isolate initial cases
Due to the prevalence of Ebola, broader issues of
of disease and alert health networks. None of those
emergency
agenda.
deeply-affected countries actually has any emergency
Delegates agreed that poorly-trained healthcare workers,
care systems that allow for isolation, according to Dr
lack of basic supplies, and the absence of responsive
Emilie Calvello, a clinical instructor in the Department
healthcare systems led to Ebola placing a heavy burden
of Emergency Medicine at Tawam Hospital. Her research
on affected countries.
highlighted the need for appropriate leadership, allocation
care
topped
the
conference’s
of adequate financing, and training of healthcare workers As is the case in much of sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare
at all levels of the healthcare system to enable delivery of
systems in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone fall short
adequate and effective emergency care across countries
of effective and adequate healthcare provisions for their
of sub-Saharan Africa.
citizens. The latter two in particular have healthcare infrastructure severely affected by recent civil wars.
The Ebola outbreak has taken a severe toll on fragile healthcare systems and courageous healthcare workers,
Even before the outbreak, Sierra Leone’s system was
many of whom were exposed to very high risk of infection
reeling from the effects of a decade-old war that
and death. More than 240 have succumbed to the virus.
ended in 2002. The war took its toll on the country’s
They are what Dr Bradley Dreifuss, Assistant Professor
healthcare system as health facilities were demolished
of Emergency Medicine at the University of Arizona, calls
and healthcare workers fled rural areas which were under
“the second burden of disease.”
the control of rebels. Lack of funding for the health sector
8
also made access to health services very difficult for
Hysteria surrounding Ebola, has led to absences of
the majority populace who live under the threshold of
healthcare workers causing patients with other urgent
extreme poverty.
care needs to go untreated, creating a second burden
Corporate Africa
effective surveillance systems. It has put emergency care on the agenda, offering a real opportunity to do things well, to invest well, train people well, and acquire good infrastructure and appropriate systems. The Conference declaration emphasized that building effective healthcare systems is key to containing outbreaks like Ebola and dealing with such pandemics in a timely and adequate manner. Stakeholders, including GOs, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and the private and public sectors, were encouraged to act accordingly to ensure rapid development and strengthening of acute care systems. of disease. “Under-five-year-old mortality from malaria is going through the roof right now because there is no
International aid has been flowing to Ebola-affected
one willing to treat them because of fears over Ebola,”
countries, and the virus’s reach has been greatly reduced.
said Dr Dreifuss.
However, the need still exists to step up support to the region to make all the affected nations Ebola-free.
The current Ebola outbreak seems to have two effects on
Governments and the donor community are required to
the healthcare situation. On one hand, the outbreak has
work together to rebuild the healthcare systems of the
diverted attention from other acute care needs with high
affected countries and equip them with the resources
mortality rates such as malaria and respiratory conditions.
needed to contain epidemics. This will ensure that,
On the other hand, it has highlighted the need to put
emergency care systems and syndromic surveillance can
robust healthcare systems in regions likely to experience
be integrated to contain outbreaks at an early stage in
future outbreaks into place at an early stage through
rebuilding healthcare systems. ■
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All-oral Treatment Option for Multidrug-resistant TB A Private Public Partnership headed by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease recently rolled out a new treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. By Katia Yezli, The Union.
I. D. Russen, Senior Vice President for Research and Development, The Union
T
Against
Two regimens to be tested in the study include an all-oral,
Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) announced plans
nine-month regimen and a six-month regimen, which
he
Union
(the
International
Union
for new clinical research that would evaluate
will both include bedaquiline (a new anti-TB medicine
the effectiveness of two new treatment regimes for
developed by Janssen Research & Development, LLC).
multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) last November.
The Union and the main trial partner, the UK Medical
If successful, the study will provide robust new evidence
Research Council, will enroll participants in the study
on the effectiveness of both all-oral and a six-month
from 2015 up until the first quarter of 2018. Results of
regimen for MDR-TB.
the study are expected in 2020.
The current standard treatment regime for MDR-TB lasts
The evaluation of these new regimens comprises the
up to 24 months and requires frequent injections, which
second stage of a larger ongoing clinical trial called
pose a significant burden on patients and health systems
“STREAM,” which is testing the effectiveness of shortened
tasked with administering treatment. Permanent hearing
treatment regiments for MDR-TB. The second stage of
loss is a serious and tragic side effect of the injected
STREAM is the result of innovative partnerships between
medicines used to treat MDR–TB.
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The Union, and Janssen. Such public-private
“If these new regimens are demonstrated to be effective,
partnerships are relatively rare in clinical research and
this research will help make MDR-TB substantially less
are essential to developing new treatments for MDR-TB.
burdensome for everyone involved,” said I.D. Rusen, Senior Vice President for Research and Development.
“USAID is committed to supporting research that will lead to better treatment outcomes for MDR-TB patients,” said
Undergoing treatment for multidrug-resistant TB currently is one of the most grueling experiences that a person affected by disease can face. It is also challenging for health workers to administer, and requires much greater investment of resources from the public health system compared with most other diseases. “The complexity and costs associated with treating MDRTB have a lot to do with why so few people with MDR-TB today receive successful treatment. MDR-TB patients shouldn’t have to choose between deafness and death,” said I. D. Rusen.
10
Corporate Africa
Dr Ariel Pablos-Mendez, USAID Assistant Administrator
Development (DIFD) and is testing a separate nine-month treatment regime, with results expected in 2017. About MDR-TB According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 480,000 people developed MDR-TB and an estimated 210,000 died from the disease in 2013. MDR-TB is defined as tuberculosis that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, two of the most important first-line drugs typically used to treat TB. About the Union for Global Health. “Today, treatment for MDR-TB can be
For nearly 100 years, The Union has drawn from the
long, grueling and toxic. With an injection-free, more
best scientific evidence and the skills, expertise, and
tolerable, and shorter regiment, we can reduce the
reach of its staff, consultants, and membership in order
suffering associated with MDR-TB treatment and save
to advance solutions to the most pressing public health
lives. This collaboration with the Union and Janssen
challenges affecting people living in poverty around the
allows us to continue the important work of the STREAM
world. With nearly 17,000 members and subscribers
study.”
from 156 countries, The Union has headquarters in Latin America, North America, and South-East Asia.
The first stage of STREAM is primarily funded by USAID
The Union’s scientific departments focus on tuberculosis
with additional funding and support from the UK Medical
and HIV, lung health, and non-communicable diseases,
Research Council and the UK Department for International
tobacco control, and operational research. ■
Corporate Africa
11
ThermoFlash Equip Doctors to Fight Ebola Global Health Consultant Therese Lethu speaks with Fabienne Ostermeyer, Director of VISIOMED, about the features of ThermoFlash technology and its benefits.
The VISIOMED GROUP is working with the United Nations, local health authorities, and companies with large numbers of employees in Africa to battle Ebola ThermoFlash is the first clinical, contactless infrared
temperature of large populations. We are working with the
thermometer. Launched in 2007, it has revolutionized
United Nations, local health authorities, and companies
the monitoring of body temperature. ThermoFlash uses
with large numbers of employees in Africa. The product
infrared technology to remotely capture the invisible
has been referenced by NATO and widely used in the fight
waves emitted by the temporal artery which is directly
against H1N1.
connected to the heart. This wave is analyzed by an algorithm for an accurate reading of the body’s
How has your team managed to meet the growing
temperature.
needs of stakeholders and requirements of medical institutions or organizations in the fight against
Infrared radiation is an electromagnetic wave frequency
the pandemic?
lower than visible red light. In medical applications, it enables the identification of local temperature anomalies
We started to follow the Ebola outbreak in the late
(such as tendinitis or superficial inflammation). Since its
spring of 2014 when the first orders from the World
release, the VISIOMED GROUP has steadily continued to
Health Organization (WHO) and various NGOs arrived.
improve ThermoFlash’s quality and reliability.
Personally, I read everything available on the subject to know how best to help and answer questions from
Why is ThermoFlash particularly well-suited to
doctors.
monitor the Ebola virus? Since the start of beginning last November, we have faced
12
Fever is the first symptom in the contraction of Ebola
an increasing number of requests. Clients become more
and ThermoFlash is very suitable
anxious every day as fears increase and the pandemic
Corporate Africa
for monitoring the
VI PARTNERSHIPS FOR PREVENTION AND CARE AFRICA HEALTH CONFERENCE VI PARTNERSHIPS FOR PREVENTION AND CARE AFRICA HEALTH CONFERENCE Businesses of Africa in private public partnerships with foreign investors, developmental agencies and the public sector, working to build capacity across national and regional health and Medicare infrastructure.
Businesses in private partnerships with foreign de investors, In partnership with thepublic Coalition des Enterprises Cote developmental d’ agencies and the public sector, working to build capacity across national and Ivoire centre, le SIDA, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), regional health and Medicare infrastructure.
and the Ministry of Health,
In partnership with the Botswana Business Coalition on AIDS, Mmegi th Newspaper, BD Dickinson and Company), DATE: 23rdand - 25(Becton, september 2015 the Ministry of Health Venue: Crrae-Umoa Exhibition Centre - Plateau, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire DATE: 1st - 3rd September 2014 VENUE: Gaborone Sun International Hotel, Gaborone, Botswana FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: www.corporateafricahealthfoundation.org FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
FRANCOPHONE: Melaine Kouassi CONFERENCE COORDINATOR: Marina Dal Toe www.corporateafricahealthfoundation.org T.: +44 2070898830 - Email: administration@corporate-africa.com T.: +225 06178275 - Email: melaine@times-publications.com CONFERENCE COORDINATOR: Aisha Aingal
FRANCOPHONE: Melaine Kouassi
T.: +234 8033536288 - Email: joy@corporate-africa.com
T.: +254 734540772 - Email: angela@corporate-africa.com
GHANA REPRESENTATIVE: Michael Ampe Kofi
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T.: +225 06178275 - Email: melaine@times-publications.com T.: +44 2070898830 administration@corporate-africa.com REGIONAL COORDINATOR: Joy- Email: Ogbuehi EAST AFRICA REPRESENTATIVE: Angela Loloba +234 8033536288 - Email: COORDINATOR: joy@corporate-africa.com EAST AFRICA REPRESENTATIVE: Angela Loloba REGIONAL Joy Ogbuehi T.: +254 734540772 - Email: angela@corporate-africa.com
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becomes overwhelming. It takes a calm attitude and
unfortunately attracts unproven equipment and that
a lot of organization to deal with the constant calls.
there are thermometers on the market which are the
Orders, once placed, are usually shipped within 24
same shape as ThermoFlash models but sold at lower
hours to any destination, but it should be able to go
prices. They may even be expensive but do not contain
faster and a continuous link between the VISIOMED
effective technology. It is so easy to deceive customers
GROUP and Africa should be established. Other potential
by putting an official brand on a cheaper product.
clients come directly to the office and place orders. We are facing a kind of fragmentation of demand, with each
This is why I keep knocking on doors to explain the
person buying for their own community.
beneficial qualities of ThermoFlash for use in clinics and hospitals. We reviewed all of our training materials
What
are
ThermoFlash’s
latest
technological
developments?
to improve the use of ThermoFlash and answer any questions asked. Being a leader in France with a solid reputation, attracts increasing numbers of African
Our latest generation of ThermoFlash incorporates a
medical societies who desire our listening capacity,
sensor which is capable of measuring the quality of
professionalism, and the reliability of our products.
the ambient air as a wave does not act the same in a Parisian hospital at 20°C as it would in West Africa with
The instantaneous transmission of information
100 per cent humidity in 30°C weather.
is essential to prevent the spread of the virus. How has the VISIOMED GROUP responded to this need?
Our new patented technology reinforces the reliability of the device since it includes a medical probe capable of measuring the quality of ambient air in real time.
Immediate transmission of information is a condition for the success of any monitoring program. That is why we have developed a concept of health monitoring based on new technologies. Bewell Control. Thermometers connect via Bluetooth to tablet computers and a central server. This allows real-time monitoring of temperature measurements and the possible centralization of all this data; allocation of resources where needed; and
Our last world patent, “Microsecondflash Technology,”
sending vital information and procedures via tablets.
provides a very accurate record of body temperature, even at extreme temperatures. This new patented
With this range of connected health products, our group
technology reinforces the reliability of the device since
had become the first electronic medical laboratory to
it includes a medical probe capable of measuring the
enter the market with a very high potential to be part
quality of the ambient air in real time. It takes clinical
of the Internet of Things (IoT – the interconnection
data into account and improves the accuracy of the
of uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices
measurement when it is very high or low.
within the existing internet infrastructure).
What is the optimal way to use the ThermoFlash?
BewellControl brings health professionals and public authorities a homogenous screening procedure, and
In TV reports, I am surprised by the number of people
instant epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of
pointing ThermoFlash equipment at the centre of a
communities and contacts. This new concept of health
person’s forehead or at their hands. We know that using
monitoring is, therefore, particularly well-suited to
it outside the temporal area of the forehead (where
African countries in response to their increasing need
the vein protrudes) may give completely erroneous
for epidemiological monitoring.
results. I get discouraged when I read that people complain about low-quality equipment, particularly in
Based in Paris, VISIOMED GROUP relies on a team of
the Washington post.
77 employees including health professionals. In 2013, the group achieved a turnover of € 11 million (US$
14
In speaking with doctors and other players in the field
12.65 million). VISIOMED Group has been called an
of medical equipment, it is notable that any crisis
“Innovative Company” by OSEO Innovation. ■
Corporate Africa
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Patients Patientsdiagnosed diagnosedwith withmultidrug-resistant multidrug-resistanttuberculosis tuberculosis(MDR-TB) (MDR-TB) being beingtreated treatedininan anisolation isolationward wardininManila. Manila.
Partnering Partneringagainst againstTB TB About About1.4 1.4million millionpeople peopledie dieofofTB TBeach eachyear, year, and andmore morethan than80 80percent percentofofnew newcases cases occur occurinin22 22developing developingcountries. countries.TB TBisisthe the second-leading second-leadingkiller killeramong amonginfectious infectiousdiseases diseases and andprimary primarycause causeofofdeath deathamong amongpeople people with withHIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS.The Theproblem problemisiscompounded compoundedby by TB’s TB’sresistance resistancetotodrug drugtreatment, treatment,limiting limitingthe the 11 options optionsfor forover over650,000 650,000patients patientsannually. annually. BD BDisispleased pleasedtotowork workwith withFIND FINDtotoprovide provide equipment, equipment,reagents, reagents,training trainingand andsupport supporttoto the thepublic publichealth healthsector sectorininhigh-burden high-burdencountries countries on onterms termsthat thatwill willenable enablethem themtotopurchase purchase and andimplement implementthese theseon onaasustainable sustainablebasis. basis.
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