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UK Registered Charity 1129924

MOBILE TELEMEDICINE CLINICS
ZAMBIA, SOUTHERN AFRICA


Welcome to The Virtual Doctor Project.
In many parts of Africa, far too many children and adults are dying unnecessarily from easily treatable diseases. In a world where many of us take basic healthcare for granted, one in six children in Zambia will still not reach the age of five.
 
Too often this problem is simply due to the lack of access to effective primary healthcare. Whether it is the huge distances to healthcentres and lack of transport, the lack of doctors in many regions, or the simple shortage of resources such as medications, very often easily treatable conditions are left until it is too late.

                                 With your help, we can use mobile clinics and email to save lives.
 
 What is a Virtual Doctor?

      One of the main obstacles to providing adequate primary  
      healthcare in rural Africa is:
  • A lack of effective diagnosis due to a shortage of doctors. Over 50% of physicians trained in Zambia leave for better salaries abroad
     
     Using the internet via satellite it is now possible to bring the
     expertise and experience of qualified doctors to rural areas
     where they are needed most. Using a simple 'store and
     forward' telemedicine system we can:
  • Connect African clinic staff on the ground by email with doctors and specialists in urban areas and overseas, to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of patients


 Why Mobile Telemedicine Clinics?
 
      Other key problems in remote regions are:
  • The distances patients must travel to reach clinics or hospitals, often taking several days
  • With many health centres poorly staffed and under-equipped, this effort may not guarantee any improvement in condition

     Mobile clinics allow us to:
  • Take the healthcare and necessary medications directly to the patient, allowing for prompt treatment or referral before a condition becomes too serious


 Why Zambia?

     Sadly, one in six children in Zambia will not reach the
     age of five (UNFPA 2008), and 14% of the adult population*
     are HIV positive (ZDHS 2007).
*(Aged 15-49)   

     Our project will prioritise child and maternal health, and will
     make a huge difference to the health of communities severely
     affected by HIV/Aids and other more treatable diseases such as
     Malaria.

     Our initial program will begin in the Lundazi District of Eastern
     Zambia, early next year. 

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 WANT MORE INFO?

For more information
about the project
download our PDF





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Utilizing technology to offer medical expertise directly to remote communities in Africa

Our vehicle-based clinics will offer free primary healthcare in the remotest regions, where patients are unable or unwilling to travel the huge distances to healthcare providers. Diagnostic and treatment advice for the more complex cases will be available using the 'Virtual Doctor' system

    Spending several days in each location, the African clinic staff will set up a temporary clinic. They will bring medical supplies, diagnostic equipment and the laptop and satellite terminal needed for emailing patient reports and photographs


The Virtual Doctor Project
is entirely funded by
private donations and grants


For as little as £3 a month you could help us to make a life-changing difference to thousands of people who desperately need your help