The ongoing civil war in Sudan has decimated the healthcare system, creating urgent needs for innovative solutions to provide medical care. Traditional telemedicine infrastructure is untenable due to the destruction of facilities, lack of reliable power supply, and the challenges of internet connectivity. Our project seeks to circumvent these barriers by implementing a system that uses lowtech solutions, such as SMS and mobile data, combined with discreetly supplied connectivity solutions like Sattalite Internet, to create a network of care accessible to displaced populations and those in conflict-affected areas.

Project Objectives

1. Restore Access to Medical Care: Utilize telemedicine to reconnect displaced populations with healthcare services, including primary care, specialist consultations, and emergency medical advice.
2. Leverage Existing Networks: Build upon informal networks and existing community structures to facilitate the delivery of healthcare services.
3. Implement Low-Tech Solutions: Employ SMS, voice calls VoIP, and minimal data-use platforms to provide medical consultation and advice, overcoming the connectivity challenges inherent in conflict zones.
4. Sustain and Scale: Develop a model that is not only immediately beneficial but can be sustained through minimal revenue streams, potentially from small service fees or international funding, ensuring long-term viability and scalability.

Proposed Solution

• Connectivity and Power: Given the connectivity challenges, our solution includes the use of VSAT Links (Starlink like) systems for internet access, while using landlines and GSM network where available as redundant network, recognizing the need for discreet acquisition and setup. Solar panels and portable power solutions will ensure uninterrupted power supply.
• Telemedicine Delivery Model: The system will use basic digital communication tools (SMS, voice call, VoIP (in areas left without GSM coverage , and limited data applications) to connect patients with healthcare providers. This includes a network of volunteer doctors and healthcare professionals, both within Sudan and abroad, ready to provide consultations and medical advice.
• Training and Support: Local volunteers and healthcare workers will be trained to use the telemedicine equipment and to act as intermediaries between patients and doctors. This includes basic medical triage, data entry, and the use of diagnostic tools where available. note
• Equipment and Infrastructure: Minimal, durable medical equipment will be used, such as mobile phones, simple diagnostic tools (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, glucose meters), and possibly low-cost, portable ultrasound devices. These tools will be distributed to makeshift clinics and community centers acting as local healthcare nodes.
• Privacy and Security: A simple, secure platform will be developed or adapted for patient data, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with medical ethics. This may involve encrypted SMS, USSD, or secure mobile applications designed for low bandwidth beside encrypted Virtual private network linking computers and equipment connected to internet. 

Core Components

1.     Decentralized Telemedicine Network: Utilizing a mesh network approach, where each node (e.g., clinic, community center) can function independently yet communicate with others as connectivity allows. This ensures that even if one node goes down or loses connectivity, the network remains operational.

2.     Open-Sourced Platforms like SPICE , OpenEMR : By leveraging platforms such as Medtronic Labs’ SPICE, the project can implement a proven, scalable solution for patient management, data collection, and teleconsultation. SPICE’s open-source nature allows for customization to meet the specific needs of the Sudanese context, including modifications for low-bandwidth environments.

3.     Hybrid Connectivity Solutions: Combining Sattalite links (or other non terrestrial / open systems) for internet access in areas where it can be securely installed and GSM-based connections (SMS, voice calls) for areas with limited internet. This hybrid approach ensures that telemedicine services remain accessible even when internet connectivity is unreliable.

4.     Solar Power Solutions: Deploying solar panels and battery storage systems to power telemedicine equipment, ensuring clinics can operate independently of the local power grid, which may be unreliable or non-existent in some areas.

5.     Mobile Health Applications: Developing or adapting open source Health applications that can run on basic smartphones or tablets, allowing for remote consultations, health monitoring, and data collection. These applications would be designed to operate with minimal data usage, optimizing them for the network conditions in Sudan.

For further details or to join us please don’t hesitate to contact us