A Distributed Information System for Health Care Facilities in Nigeria: A Web-based Spatial Approach

Abstract

Today, the Internet has further improved the functionalities of computers. A computer and Internet based technology offering a radically different way to manage spatial data is the GIS. Its useful digital maps are needful and very useful in managing healthcare related affairs and communities as well as industry base issues. Therefore, we describe a distributive information system that uses a web-based GIS spatial approach to aid the distribution of tertiary health facilities in Nigeria. The system would assist its users to identify where health care facilities are concentrated, and how and where to locate them anytime. Some of the resources employed in the system's development include: Macromedia dreamweaver, Java Scripting, PHP, MYSQL; the WAMP server; while the UML was used for the system's design. Implementing the system showed that stakeholders were able to visualize the distribution of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, and make useful inferential decisions with ease. Conclusively, we believe the system will aid in locating the nearest tertiary hospital, as well as help stakeholders make more informed decisions.