Mobile Health Technology (Mhealth) in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic: Use, Challenges and Recommendations
Olubunmi Emmanuel Odeyemi, Shekinah Yobuh Williams, Shalom Oluwafunke Adeyemi, James Oluwadara Eyitayo, Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada, Miracle Ayomikun Adesina, Abiodun David Akintayo
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease was discovered first in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. It was later declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 11th of March, 2020. COVID-19, as popularly called, has spread rapidly to about 213 countries of the world and 2 international conveyances. There are over 5.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infection as at May 28th, 2020 and more than 358 thousand death cases reported globally. This staggering statistics has called for drastic and concerted efforts from governments and health workers around the globe to combat COVID-19 pandemic. With the increasing need for effective prevention of spread of the virus and development of a cure and a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible, mobile health technology with all its benefits may just be the answer. Mobile Health technology has been a vital tool in creation of awareness and dissemination of information; as a means of curtailing the spread of the coronavirus from person to person; tracking of infected persons, and reduction of person-to-person contact, virtual screening and remote monitoring of patients. Despite the aforementioned uses, the challenge of cost, information privacy and less knowledge of the application of mhealth remains. It is therefore recommended that the potential of low-cost mobile technology be maximized; laws and regulation as regard privacy and confidentiality be set and funds be made available by the government.