GE Healthcare Introduces Portable Ultrasound To Address M,aternal, Infant Mortality In Far-Flung Areas

A new portable ultrasound system designed specifically for the use of primary healthcare workers–such as midwives, general practitioners, paramedics and clinical officers especially in far flung areas of the countries was introduced Tuesday by the GE Healthcare to help reduced maternal and infant mortality.

The device dubbed as “Vscan Access” differs a lot from the usual big and bulky ultrasound that most of people had seen before especially some pregnant mothers before who had accessed it.

It was developed by GE and aims to improve maternal and child health in regions of the country as well as other countries that lack proper access to healthcare facilities.

According to Dr. Rajan Kalidindi, segment leader for APAC Primary Care and Emerging Care Ultrasound of GE Healthcare, the portable ultrasound is easy to use just like the smartphone.

“This device has also growth-tracking software to track the growth of the baby or the fetus…we can continuously monitor that by having the unique patient ID and we can track the growth of the fetus,” said Dr. Rajan at Ascott Hotel, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Rajan also added that the ultrasound also has also incorporated a built-in features such as e-videos wherein the healthcare workers will be able to show also to the patient an educational video that can be watch by the patient as they conduct the scanning and the report.

The videos will also educate the patient on how she can take care of herself during pregnancy and what is the food she needs to eat, how many times a pregnant woman need to visit a doctor.

The device, aside from being affordable, is also easy to use and does not require a very extensive training to healthcare workers. Because using it just like using other smart phones.

“It also has the bluetooth capability-it can wirelessly send images to a doctor then a midwife or a clinical officer can take the second opinion if she is not comfortable to take a decision. So that is the beauty of the device,” the officer of GE added.

He further said that aside from the technology, the device was designed to provide complete solutions to the ministry of health and policymakers to gauge the mother and newborn health.

It was presented and explained to the media and other healthcare workers as well as officials from the Department of Health (DOH) headed by DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag heading the Bureau of Local Health Department by officers of GE along with the mayor of Banna, Ilocos Norte.

The use of the portable ultrasound was initially piloted in the town of Banna, Ilocos Norte wherein the easy to use devices were temporarily lent to assess its viability.

“The partnership was between me and my town (Banna) they asked me if our town can be the pilot area for the new product, a first in the world portable ultrasound machine,” said Mayor Carlito Abadilla II, municipal mayor of Banna, Ilocos Norte.

Abadilla said that one machine was left by the GE healthcare since November 2015 after they begin the partnership for the pilot testing.

The town provides accommodations to doctors and the people from GE as well as convincing the pregnant mothers to get involve in the pilot use of the ultrasound machine.

Other mayors from neighboring towns provided the required numbers of mothers who can access the device in the tracking their pregnancy period until the period they give birth.

So far, more than the 130 screened pregnant mothers came from the neighboring towns.

“As of now we are continuously using it for screening and then we will feed to them the data after,” Abadilla added.

“The major reasons of maternal death is the mindset, the culture/health seeking behavior wherein they do not seek consultation especially in rural areas till pregnant mother give birth,” the mayor recalled.

He said that such small things left unaddressed can result to maternal deaths as complication.

He said that with the presence of the portable ultrasound, which is being used by their midwives, had so far inspired happy reactions from pregnant mothers turning them to be responsive both on the health concern of them and the fetuses in their wombs.

“They saw the gadgets and experience the ease of using it to them. Mostly, the reason why they are apprehensive are the cost of ultrasound costing from P800 to a thousand,” he added as he cited that the light weight and easy to bring machine is benefiting a lot of pregnant mothers in the town right now.

He said that once the pilot test was completely assessed as successful, they were willing to purchase the same for the use of their town expectant mothers.

“We hope the DOH will spearhead (it also to roll-out in the countryside)…Because one of the priority projects of DOH is providing barangay health stations in every barangay…My proposal is ideally every barangay health station should have this Vscan,” he added.

The training for the use of the portable ultrasound was headed by Dr.Godofreda Dalmacion, an OB Gyne from the Department of Clinical Epidemiology College ofMedicine UP Manila.

Dr. Dalmacion said that the aside from helping in addressing maternal and infant death in the country, the ultrasound could help also in monitoring of the fetus and in identifying the circumference of the brain of the baby as they develop.

Dalmacion also added that the easy to use device could also contribute in tracking the conditions of teenage pregnant mothers as well as identification of the causes of the pregnancies and ensuring that they also get the needed help such as provision of proper nutrition from different government agencies.

Ivan Alexi R. Arota, country manager to the Philippines of GE HealthCare recalled that in 2010, GE made a commitment to the United nations to develop evidence-based solutions for maternal and child health by 2015.

“Vscan Access is the latest contribution to that commitment,” Arota added.

GE Health provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. (PNA) RMA/LSJ