Ultrasound in Africa: what can really be done?

Abstract

Today we are living in a globalized world in which information on what is happening in one part of the world is easily communicated to other parts of the world. This happens thanks to advancement in science and technology. One area where technology has made the greatest impact is heath care provision. Ultrasound technology is now playing a critical role in health care provision particularly in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This has significantly assisted in provision of quality health care to pregnant women and their unborn infants and in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Africa the continent with greatest health care challenges and with the highest maternal and neonatal mortalities is yet to fully utilize this important technology. The need for this technology is great as the conditions requiring its application abound. The effective application of Ultrasound however faces serious challenges in Africa. To successfully entrench Ultrasound in quality Obstetrics and Gynaecology care various approaches must be adopted to overcome the challenges. The aim of this paper is to identify the benefits and the challenges inimical to the application Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Africa. It also examines what needs to be done to achieve better application of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.