In 2015, UbuntuNet Alliance NRENs are set to remotely participate in another Dengue Fever Workshop to be held in Fukuoka, Japan on 1st March. The Telemedicine Workshop will be characterised by a presentation on Ebola, one of the most challenging infectious diseases yet to hit Africa, West Africa in particular. However, wider participation from researchers, students and network engineers across Eastern and Southern Africa is still required. For participation details contact your local National Research and Education Network or email the Alliance at info@ubuntunet.net.
Meanwhile, tests are underway to improve the telemedicine experience of researchers and medical professionals in Uganda and Japan. The tests on the viability of video conferencing between Fukuoka University of Japan and Makerere University, College of Health Sciences are expected to enhance collaboration in traumatology and orthopedic surgery. Makerere University is connected to the NREN community through the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) which is a member of Ubuntunet Alliance.
“Following the successful remote presentation at the 8th Asia Telemedicine Symposium, Fukui University of Japan and Makerere University are currently testing the link with the view of using it to enhance the collaboration that they have in the field of traumatology and orthopedic surgery,” says Mr Joe Kimaili, UbuntuNet Alliance Technical Manager.
Mr. Kimaili indicates immediate solutions to better telemedicine services on the UbuntuNet as being “deployment of video conferencing equipment for use by researchers and ensuring UbuntuNet data links remain uncongested. UbuntuNet Alliance will also need to establish direct paths to Far East destinations such as Japan…”
UbuntuNet Alliance’s participation in the March Asia Telemedicine event is in line with similar remote telemedicine initiatives on research and education networks such as the Symposium on Ebola organised by UbuntuNet Alliance in Lusaka, and the Dengue Fever Symposiums in the Caribbean and in Asia-pacific earlier in 2014. Pic courtesy AARNET