By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to remove obstacles preventing easy access to good healthcare services for all especially in the rural areas, the Co-founder of eHealth Africa and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EHA Clinics, Adams Thompson, has harped on transformative potential of digital platforms in breaking healthcare access barriers.
This is even as he said the essence is to make people in rural areas to have easy access to healthcare services across Nigeria.
Thompson stated this in his Keynote Address at the eHealth Africa’s 2024 Insights Learning Forum with the theme: “Digital Innovations in Public Health Practice: Lessons and Impact”, is an annual event dedicated to advancing digital health in public health practice held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja Wednesday.
The Forum also aimed to empower individuals, groups, and organizations to harness digital technologies to address emerging challenges and drive positive change in public health systems in Africa.
Thompson explained that digital platforms can make it possible for a doctor to provide a first-hand assessment and prescription.
According to him this can even facilitate a referral process where a patient from the grassroot can be picked up from home and taken to a medical facility.
He also highlighted the importance of a human-centered approach in developing these digital innovations, ensuring that they are tailored to meet the actual needs of the users.
Said he: “this approach allows users to provide input, making sure the solutions we deploy are practical and address real challenges”.
Also speaking at the Forum, the Director of Partnerships and Programs at eHealth Africa, Ms Ota Akhigbe called on the need to ensure that data is not just collected for its own sake but is used to inform decisions that improve health outcomes.
Akhigbe highlighted the need for collaboration among private, public, and civil society partners to break down silos and create more effective and human-centric healthcare solutions.
The Director lauded the supportive stance of the Nigerian government towards digital transformation, pointing out that the collaborative approach between the private sector and government agencies is vital for the successful implementation of digital health solutions.
“The Forum is an opportunity for stakeholders to communicate their needs and expectations to government representatives, ensuring that policies align with the sector’s evolving needs”, she said.
Meanwhile, the Incident Manager at the Polio Emergency Operations Center in Katsina, Dr. Kabir Suleiman, explained that the digital innovation has transformed routine data collection from hardcopy to electronic formats.
Suleiman said that embracing digital technology is crucial for strengthening the health system, particularly in areas where traditional methods fall short.
