Creation of a teledermatology service<\/h1>\n\u2014 Mali \u2014<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>BACKGROUND<\/h1>\n
The prevalence of skin diseases in Mali is very high, with a rate nearing 30%. The principal afflictions are infectious dermatoses, such as impetigo, eczema and scabies. They are minor ailments, but with sometimes disastrous consequences<\/strong>. Impetigo, for example, can cause heart-valve disease or kidney failure in children. Unfortunately, with less than one dermatologist per million inhabitants, the country is facing a shortage of specialists and low skill levels in staff working in peripheral health facilities.<\/p>\nNevertheless, those working at these centres readily seek advice from specialists via mobile phone, a technology that is expanding exponentially on the continent. Based on this observation, Professor Ousmane Faye, head of the dermatology department at the Centre for Disease Control (Centre National d’Appui \u00e0 la lutte contre la Maladie, or CNAM), decided to assess telemedicine\u2019s feasibility and impact on treating skin diseases.\u00a0 As dermatology essentially involves visual observation, ICT can be put to particularly effective use in diagnosis and monitoring.<\/strong> The Fondation Pierre Fabre has supported this project since early 2015.<\/p>\nThis 18-month study covers the regions of Koulikoro, Sikasso and Mopti. Twenty doctors and nurses received training in common dermatoses that do not require a dermatologist\u2019s assessment, so that the project may remain focused on complex cases. These professionals were then trained in digital tools and the use of the Bogou telediagnosis platform (bougou means \u201cmutual aid\u201d in Bamanankan), operated by the RAFT*, in sending data (text, audio, video).<\/strong> This platform is used to obtain diagnoses from dermatologists on complex cases. In parallel, the 10 pilot health centres were equipped with digital cameras and Internet connections.<\/strong><\/p>\nOf the 3,000 ailments recorded during the period, 175 were shared on the platform. These were cases in which healthcare workers needed a dermatologist\u2019s input. This number surpassed projections, as the project objectives had planned on 150 such cases. Telediagnosistic requests were typically processed the same day. An evaluation phase will make it possible to measure the telediagnostics\u2019 compliance with a physical examination of the patients.<\/p>\n
The results of the teledermatology pilot programme, established in Mali by Professor Ousmane Faye with the Fondation Pierre Fabre\u2019s support, has demonstrated how new technologies help improve skin health through remote diagnosis for those populations having access to such innovations.<\/p>\n
Watch the AFP report on the Teledermatology programme in Mali:<\/strong><\/p>\nTo present this work, the Fondation Pierre Fabre, in conjunction with Bamako\u2019s National Centre for Disease Control (CNAM) and the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, held the First African Teledermatology Conference (Assises de T\u00e9l\u00e9dermatologie Africaines) on 1 June 2017 in Bamako.<\/p>\n
This gathering, chaired by Mali\u2019s Health Minister, drew specialists from eight countries of the sub-region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Benin, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire) who all presented their research.<\/p>\n
As part of this event, the Fondation Pierre Fabre put out a call for projects open to health structures in other African countries interested in receiving support to begin similar initiatives. After studying the proposals received, the Foundation chose to support two projects, one put forth by the Mauritanian Dermatology Society (SMD) and the other by the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM):<\/p>\n
Mauritania \u2013 Taking skin-disease treatment into the desert.<\/strong><\/p>\nWith only 13 dermatologists (12 of whom are based in the capital) for a population of four million spread over this vast desert territory, quality care options remain very limited. Over a two-year period, the project selected intends to create twelve consultation units in three regions of Mauritania in the north and south, relying on existing departmental or communal health structures.<\/p>\n
The local referring professionals at these health centres will be in contact with the eight expert dermatologists based in Nouakchott via the National Telemedicine Programme\u2019s computer network. A diagnosis and treatment protocol will be returned in 24-48 hours. The long-term objective is to train 24 referring professionals who can handle 300 patients per month (3,600 a year) in the three targeted regions.<\/p>\n
This project is supported by the Mauritanian Dermatology Society.<\/p>\n
Togo \u2013 Train 100 health workers in five years.<\/strong><\/p>\nTo improve dermatological expertise among health workers in four of Togo\u2019s five regions, the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM) plans to train 100 health workers across 50 healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n
Diagnoses for complex cases will be accessible through remote data transmission to expert dermatologists based in Lom\u00e9. This project, which took five years to implement, replicates the Malian teledermatology model created by Professor Faye and will rely on the R\u00e9seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T\u00e9l\u00e9m\u00e9decine (RAFT).<\/p>\n
* R\u00e9seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T\u00e9l\u00e9m\u00e9decine, a network of more than 1,000 health professionals, 200 hospitals and health facilities in 20 African countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>KEY FACTS<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n_____<\/span><\/p>\nPriority<\/strong><\/span>
\nTropical dermatology<\/span><\/p>\nProgramme<\/strong><\/span>
\nSince 2015<\/span><\/p>\nType of involvement<\/strong><\/span>
\nDistributor<\/span><\/p>\nActions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n- Funding of the entire programme: communications equipment, training, operating costs, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Universit\u00e9 de Bamako, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine
\nBP 1805
\nBamako – MALI<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/dev.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/o.faye_300x369_nb.png\" "\\"o.faye_300x369_nb\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sans-titre-1-1.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nOur project is based on both quality of care and training capacity. For the quality of care, we can count on the specialists from the CNAM, which is home to the country\u2019s largest dermatological reference center. For the training capacity, the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology is highly relevant: it trains the most senior healthcare managers in Mali. Furthermore, it already has a telemedicine platform in place. This proven tool will make possible the exchange of information between the dermatologists and health workers in the nine pilot centres.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nPr. Ousmane Faye<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDermatologist, teaching staff member and vice dean of the Bamako Faculty of medicine, head of the dermatology department at CNAM<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Achievements<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>1 <\/span>
\n<\/span>pilot project
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>10<\/span>
\n<\/span>health centres involved
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>20<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0health workers trained in common dermatoses (11 physicians and 9 nurses and health workers) and the use of digital tools
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>180 <\/span>
\n<\/span>cases sent via the Bogou teletransmission platform
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4<\/span>
\n<\/span>field assessment missions
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Perspectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>The objective for the next two years is to cover 80% of peripheral health centres in Mali, starting in the north. Nearly 200 health workers will be trained and networked.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>PARTNERS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n- National Centre for Disease Control (Centre National d\u2019Appui \u00e0 la lutte contre la Maladie or CNAM, formerly the Institut Marchoux), Secretariat General of the Ministry of Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n- RAFT<\/a> (R\u00e9seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T\u00e9l\u00e9m\u00e9decine)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n- Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontostomatology (FMPOS) of Bamako<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n- F\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CERTES<\/a> (Centre d’Expertise et de Recherche en T\u00e9l\u00e9dermatologie et en e-Sant\u00e9)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
See also<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
BACKGROUND<\/h1>\n
The prevalence of skin diseases in Mali is very high, with a rate nearing 30%. The principal afflictions are infectious dermatoses, such as impetigo, eczema and scabies. They are minor ailments, but with sometimes disastrous consequences<\/strong>. Impetigo, for example, can cause heart-valve disease or kidney failure in children. Unfortunately, with less than one dermatologist per million inhabitants, the country is facing a shortage of specialists and low skill levels in staff working in peripheral health facilities.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, those working at these centres readily seek advice from specialists via mobile phone, a technology that is expanding exponentially on the continent. Based on this observation, Professor Ousmane Faye, head of the dermatology department at the Centre for Disease Control (Centre National d’Appui \u00e0 la lutte contre la Maladie, or CNAM), decided to assess telemedicine\u2019s feasibility and impact on treating skin diseases.\u00a0 As dermatology essentially involves visual observation, ICT can be put to particularly effective use in diagnosis and monitoring.<\/strong> The Fondation Pierre Fabre has supported this project since early 2015.<\/p>\n This 18-month study covers the regions of Koulikoro, Sikasso and Mopti. Twenty doctors and nurses received training in common dermatoses that do not require a dermatologist\u2019s assessment, so that the project may remain focused on complex cases. These professionals were then trained in digital tools and the use of the Bogou telediagnosis platform (bougou means \u201cmutual aid\u201d in Bamanankan), operated by the RAFT*, in sending data (text, audio, video).<\/strong> This platform is used to obtain diagnoses from dermatologists on complex cases. In parallel, the 10 pilot health centres were equipped with digital cameras and Internet connections.<\/strong><\/p>\n Of the 3,000 ailments recorded during the period, 175 were shared on the platform. These were cases in which healthcare workers needed a dermatologist\u2019s input. This number surpassed projections, as the project objectives had planned on 150 such cases. Telediagnosistic requests were typically processed the same day. An evaluation phase will make it possible to measure the telediagnostics\u2019 compliance with a physical examination of the patients.<\/p>\n The results of the teledermatology pilot programme, established in Mali by Professor Ousmane Faye with the Fondation Pierre Fabre\u2019s support, has demonstrated how new technologies help improve skin health through remote diagnosis for those populations having access to such innovations.<\/p>\n Watch the AFP report on the Teledermatology programme in Mali:<\/strong><\/p>\n To present this work, the Fondation Pierre Fabre, in conjunction with Bamako\u2019s National Centre for Disease Control (CNAM) and the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, held the First African Teledermatology Conference (Assises de T\u00e9l\u00e9dermatologie Africaines) on 1 June 2017 in Bamako.<\/p>\n This gathering, chaired by Mali\u2019s Health Minister, drew specialists from eight countries of the sub-region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Benin, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire) who all presented their research.<\/p>\n As part of this event, the Fondation Pierre Fabre put out a call for projects open to health structures in other African countries interested in receiving support to begin similar initiatives. After studying the proposals received, the Foundation chose to support two projects, one put forth by the Mauritanian Dermatology Society (SMD) and the other by the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM):<\/p>\n Mauritania \u2013 Taking skin-disease treatment into the desert.<\/strong><\/p>\n With only 13 dermatologists (12 of whom are based in the capital) for a population of four million spread over this vast desert territory, quality care options remain very limited. Over a two-year period, the project selected intends to create twelve consultation units in three regions of Mauritania in the north and south, relying on existing departmental or communal health structures.<\/p>\n The local referring professionals at these health centres will be in contact with the eight expert dermatologists based in Nouakchott via the National Telemedicine Programme\u2019s computer network. A diagnosis and treatment protocol will be returned in 24-48 hours. The long-term objective is to train 24 referring professionals who can handle 300 patients per month (3,600 a year) in the three targeted regions.<\/p>\n This project is supported by the Mauritanian Dermatology Society.<\/p>\n Togo \u2013 Train 100 health workers in five years.<\/strong><\/p>\n To improve dermatological expertise among health workers in four of Togo\u2019s five regions, the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM) plans to train 100 health workers across 50 healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n Diagnoses for complex cases will be accessible through remote data transmission to expert dermatologists based in Lom\u00e9. This project, which took five years to implement, replicates the Malian teledermatology model created by Professor Faye and will rely on the R\u00e9seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T\u00e9l\u00e9m\u00e9decine (RAFT).<\/p>\n * R\u00e9seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T\u00e9l\u00e9m\u00e9decine, a network of more than 1,000 health professionals, 200 hospitals and health facilities in 20 African countries.<\/p>\n<\/div> KEY FACTS<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Priority<\/strong><\/span> Programme<\/strong><\/span> Type of involvement<\/strong><\/span> Actions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Universit\u00e9 de Bamako, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine Our project is based on both quality of care and training capacity. For the quality of care, we can count on the specialists from the CNAM, which is home to the country\u2019s largest dermatological reference center. For the training capacity, the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology is highly relevant: it trains the most senior healthcare managers in Mali. Furthermore, it already has a telemedicine platform in place. This proven tool will make possible the exchange of information between the dermatologists and health workers in the nine pilot centres.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Pr. Ousmane Faye<\/span><\/strong><\/span> 1 <\/span> 10<\/span> 20<\/span> 180 <\/span> 4<\/span> The objective for the next two years is to cover 80% of peripheral health centres in Mali, starting in the north. Nearly 200 health workers will be trained and networked.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n_____<\/span><\/p>\n
\nTropical dermatology<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSince 2015<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDistributor<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nBP 1805
\nBamako – MALI<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n
\nDermatologist, teaching staff member and vice dean of the Bamako Faculty of medicine, head of the dermatology department at CNAM<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES<\/h2>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>Achievements<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>pilot project
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>health centres involved
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>\u00a0health workers trained in common dermatoses (11 physicians and 9 nurses and health workers) and the use of digital tools
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>cases sent via the Bogou teletransmission platform
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/span>field assessment missions
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Perspectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>PARTNERS<\/h2>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>See also<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dsc_1283_0.jpg\")
<\/a><\/li><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.fondationpierrefabre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/lutte-contre-la-drepanocytose-fondation-pierre-fabre.jpg\")
<\/a><\/li><\/div>