By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to find solutions to some of the public health issues in Nigeria, health experts gathered in Abuja on Wednesday for eHealth Africa’s 2024 Insights Learning Forum with focus on “Digital Innovations in Public Health Practice: Lessons and Impact” which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Wednesday.
The high-level Forum which is an annual event dedicated to advancing digital health in public health practice lived up to expectations as it ran through a diverse array of plenary sessions, panel discussions and track sessions on the day.
The Forum also empowered individuals, groups, and organizations to harness digital technologies to address emerging challenges and drive positive change in public health systems in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
In his Keynote Address at this year’s edition of the Insights Learning Forum, Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz, reiterated that innovation is the key to unlocking new possibilities in healthcare.
He also said the Forum aligns with our plans to invest in research and development to drive innovation in healthcare delivery, diagnostics, and treatment modalities.
According to him a forum of this nature brings together public health professionals, key stakeholders, and digital solution experts in one room to discuss the way forward.
Speakers after speakers who made presentations said that the world, especially developing countries, has consistently battled challenges ranging from climate change and food security to data management, with significant impacts on public health and disease prevention and surveillance.
Specifically, Nigeria has recently endured outbreaks of diseases like cholera, Lassa fever, diphtheria, and meningitis, among others.
These challenges they said may be connected to relatively weak health system resilience and ineffective data management and interoperability. These factors significantly impact nations’ ability to prevent or respond to public health emergencies.
eHealth Africa (eHA) is a non-profit organization based in Kano, Nigeria, that builds stronger health systems in Africa through the design and implementation of data-driven solutions. eHA responds to local needs and provides underserved communities with tools to lead healthier lives through the integration of information, technology, and operations.
