Sudan, in north-eastern Africa, has a population of approximately ten million people, but there are only ten qualified midwives. Consequently, Southern Sudan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world due to the extreme lack of access to clinical care. The goal of The Brickworks Charity and the collaboration with Siemens Healthcare, is to assist local staff at the Martha Primary Healthcare Centre in Yei to identify any problems during pregnancy as soon as possible with the use of the ACUSON P10™ ultrasound system. The clinic currently accommodates 900 ante-natal patients monthly and in the future, the system may also be used for other examinations.

“In Southern Sudan, a girl is more likely to die in childbirth than complete her primary education, and so we are committed to exploring all avenues that can protect women during pregnancy and their newborn babies,” explains Poppy Spens, International Health Coordinator for the Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Yei. “We chose the ACUSON P10 system because upon research we found it to be a lightweight an extremely portable system. Scans can also be printed onto normal paper, which is a big plus and made it stand out from similar systems that require special paper to print that would be damaged by the heat.”

The ACUSON P10 system is a handheld ultrasound device, small enough to fit into a coat pocket and lightweight enough for easy transport in remote terrain. It is suitable for application in a variety of environments including obstetrics, as it enables clinicians to evaluate fetal presentation, heartbeat, fluid levels, and placenta location. With instant power-up capabilities, excellent image quality, and a simple user interface, the system aids, with diagnostic confidence, in remote settings. This type of technology is especially suitable for regions like Yei, in Southern Sudan: The use of the ACUSON P10 ultrasound system illustrates the flexibility that a portable ultrasound can deliver in remote communities and outside of what may be considered a traditional hospital environment.