Allexer Namundjembo
The Ministry of Health has introduced three handheld sonar probes into the public healthcare system to improve diagnosis in clinics and rural areas.
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said the move is about changing how healthcare is delivered, not just adding new tools.
“The ministry is not merely adding equipment. We are redesigning how care is delivered,” she said.
The three devices were funded by the Capricorn Foundation after discussions with the ministry late last year.
“Late last year, as we advanced our vision to decentralise healthcare and empower regions, we approached the Capricorn Foundation knowing their track record in projects focused on systems change,” Luvindao said.
“After a few engagements, they responded with a resounding commitment to fund our first three handheld sonar probes.”
The devices weigh 0.9 kilograms and are small enough to fit into a handbag. They can connect to a mobile phone or tablet and work without internet access. This makes them suitable for outreach services and clinics in remote areas.
The handheld sonar probes can be used for obstetric and gynaecological scans. They can detect fibroids, cysts and polyps and monitor pregnancy and foetal wellbeing. They can also scan soft tissues and organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, bladder, uterus and prostate.
In emergencies, the devices can detect internal bleeding, fluid in the chest or abdomen, assess heart function and identify blood clots or blockages.
“This is not just another donation. At a clinic or in a village, a handheld sonar can save lives by rapidly detecting internal bleeding, ruptured ectopic pregnancies, fetal heartbeat and position, placenta previa, cardiac complications or dangerous abdominal fluid. It enables faster decisions, timely referrals, earlier treatment and a significant reduction in maternal, newborn and emergency deaths in underserved areas,” Luvindao said.
Medical officers and trained community health workers will be able to perform scans at the point of care. They can share images or video clips with specialists when needed to speed up referrals and treatment decisions.
Capricorn Foundation executive director Marlize Horn said the foundation supports the ministry’s decentralisation plans.
“As connectors of positive change, we believe that quality healthcare is a fundamental pillar of a healthy nation, and we support the Ministry’s vision of decentralisation,” Horn said.
