Implementing a Mobile Diagnostic Unit to Increase Access to Imaging and Laboratory Services in Western Kenya
Practice Implementing a mobile diagnostic unit to increase access to imaging and laboratory services in western Kenya Roshni Dhoot,1 John M Humphrey,2,3 Patrick O'Meara,3,4 Adrian Gardner,2,3 Clement J McDonald,5 Kelvin Ogot,6 Sameer Antani,5 Joseph Abuya,7 Marc Kohli8 To cite: Dhoot R, Humphrey JM, O'Meara P, et al. Implementing ABSTRACT Summary box a mobile diagnostic unit to Access to basic imaging and laboratory services remains a increase access to imaging major challenge in rural, resource-limited settings in sub- and laboratory services in ► Access to basic imaging and laboratory services Saharan Africa. In 2016, the Academic Model Providing western Kenya. BMJ Glob Health in rural, resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan 2018;3:e000947. doi:10.1136/ Access to Healthcare programme in western Kenya Africa is limited, particularly in areas facing a high bmjgh-2018-000947 implemented a mobile diagnostic unit (MDU) outfitted with burden of tuberculosis. a generator-powered X-ray machine and basic laboratory ► In 2016, the Academic Model Providing Access to Handling editor Seye Abimbola tests to address the lack of these services at rural, low- Healthcare programme implemented a mobile diag- resource, public health facilities. The objective of this paper nostic unit (MDU) with a generator and wireless digi- Received 11 May 2018 is to describe the design, implementation, preliminary tal radiography which has taken over 4500 X-rays to Revised 8 August 2018 impact and operational challenges of the MDU in western date, detecting abnormalities in approximately 30% Accepted 9 August 2018 Kenya.
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