A Conceptual Framework for Telehealth Integration in Conflict Zones and Post-Disaster Public Health Responses

• Author(s): Leesi Saturday Komi ; Ernest Chinonso Chianumba ; Adelaide Yeboah Forkuo ; Damilola Osamika ; Ashiata Yetunde Mustapha
• Paper ID: 1708183
• Page: 342-359
• Published Date: 31-12-2021
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 5 Issue 6 December-2021

Abstract

In recent years, telehealth has emerged as a transformative tool in advancing healthcare delivery, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings where conventional health systems are disrupted. This paper proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework for integrating telehealth solutions into public health responses within conflict zones and post-disaster environments. The framework is designed to address the critical challenges of access, continuity of care, coordination, and resilience in crisis-impacted regions, leveraging digital health technologies to bridge gaps in medical service delivery. Drawing from multidisciplinary perspectives in health informatics, disaster management, and humanitarian response, the framework outlines core components: infrastructure readiness, policy and regulatory alignment, interoperability standards, workforce capacity, data security, and culturally appropriate user engagement. These components are interlinked within a systems-thinking approach that considers technological, logistical, ethical, and socio-political constraints unique to conflict and disaster settings. The model emphasizes scalable deployment strategies such as satellite-based communication networks, mobile health (mHealth) platforms, and cloud-based electronic medical records to support remote diagnostics, teleconsultations, mental health services, and outbreak surveillance. The conceptual framework also incorporates mechanisms for rapid implementation, stakeholder coordination, and adaptive feedback loops, enabling health systems and humanitarian actors to assess evolving needs and adjust interventions accordingly. Case studies from war-affected regions and post-disaster zones, including Syria, Ukraine, and Haiti, are analyzed to validate the framework’s applicability and inform best practices. The integration of telehealth not only ensures life-saving care during acute emergencies but also contributes to the long-term reconstruction of resilient, technology-enabled health systems. This study underscores the necessity of proactive telehealth planning and capacity-building before, during, and after crises. It provides a foundational roadmap for governments, international health organizations, and non-governmental actors to operationalize telehealth interventions in alignment with global health security priorities. By institutionalizing digital health as a core pillar of emergency response and recovery strategies, the framework advances equitable, timely, and sustainable healthcare delivery in the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Keywords

Telehealth, Conflict Zones, Post-Disaster Response, Public Health, Digital Health Integration, Humanitarian Healthcare, Health System Resilience, Mhealth, Emergency Health Strategy, Health Informatics.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Leesi Saturday Komi , Ernest Chinonso Chianumba , Adelaide Yeboah Forkuo , Damilola Osamika , Ashiata Yetunde Mustapha "A Conceptual Framework for Telehealth Integration in Conflict Zones and Post-Disaster Public Health Responses" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 5 Issue 6 2021 Page 342-359

IEEE:
Leesi Saturday Komi , Ernest Chinonso Chianumba , Adelaide Yeboah Forkuo , Damilola Osamika , Ashiata Yetunde Mustapha "A Conceptual Framework for Telehealth Integration in Conflict Zones and Post-Disaster Public Health Responses" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 5(6)