Children affected by the Chernobyl accident
Medical relief for children affected by the Chernobyl accident through the development and implementation of health telematics
Scope of Work
A Main planned activities
A detailed description of the project will be developed, on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding and this project proposal, by WHO in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Belarus and SMHF experts. The project will start in August 1999 and the initial stage is being carried out over three years. For this period the following key activities will be carried out:
- establishment of the health telematics infrastructure;
- Introducing software and hardware, establishment of an international and national health telematics networks with involvement of relevant WHO Collaborating Centres;
- establishment of a follow-up system for patients with treated thyroid cancer; development of a project clinical database
- establishment of an information centre for exchange of experience and promotion of training and education of medical staff.
(A and B)
The main working offices to develop software are in Minsk, Nagasaki and Geneva. The establishment of and infrastructure of telecommunication would be conducted by the Government of Belarus and the International Telecommunication Union. The fundamental system of transferring the medical image information from Gomel to Minsk and Nagasaki, and from Minsk to all the WHO Thyroid Collaborating Centres will be managed in Mink and Nagasaki.
(C)
In Gomel, the functional centre of follow-up of patients with thyroid cancer will be introduced at the Gomel Specialized Diagnostic Dispensary or at the other organizations proposed by Ministry of Health or the Gomel Regional Health Bureau. The software necessary for the follow-up will be developed in Nagasaki.
Supporting items in Gomel are as follows:
- Establishment of data and information centre
- Monitoring of drug replacement (thyroid hormone and vitamine D3)
- Total patient care by telemedicine programme
(D)
In Minsk, the centre of an information-exchange of knowledge and experience and of the promotion of training and education of medical staff will be located within the Minsk Medical Institute. Simultaneously international cooperation centres for radiation-victims will be established in Nagasaki.
The aim of the development of telemedicine, especially telepathology and tele-education under collaboration with the WHO Thyroid Collaborating Centres are to promote medical care for patients with radiation-induced thyroid diseases by improving communications and establishing an ideal systems of early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment and long-term follow-up. The linkage between Minsk and Gomel is so important that the detailed planning must be finalized under cooperation between the Gomel Regional Health Bureau and the Ministry of Health in Minsk.
C. Outcome
Gomel-Minsk and Nagasaki institutions tied by modern telecommunication technology will create a model for international diagnosis, follow-up and information exchange on radiation-exposed persons.
The establishment of the remote-area medical assistance system in Belarus should provide a double check in respect of thyroid diagnosis in children screened by ultrasound images, quality control of medical data , appropriate guidance of cytological diagnosis, early and appropriate treatment and follow-up. It should also promote information and experience exchange, and training and education of medical staff.
The improvement of diagnostic quality will contribute to the better health risk assessment of ionizing radiation at international and national levels.
Participants
Participants of the project, at least in the first stage, will be the Ministry of Health of Belarus, WHO, and relevant WHO Collaborating Centres, such as the WHO Collaborating Centre for research of thyroid diseases at Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Project duration and funds
The project duration is to be 10 years with any extension to be agreed upon by the parties concerned. Funds for the initial stage of 3 years, in the amount of US$ 1 000 000 are available to WHO from the Sasakawa Health Trust Fund. Continuation of funding by the Sasakawa Health Trust Fund beyond the initial three year stage will be subject to a separate agreement between the parties.