Health experts, practitioners, and policymakers from across Africa have called for the urgent need to harness digital technology to improve healthcare access and outcomes, particularly in rural areas where traditional healthcare services are often limited.
The stakeholders made the call at the Insight Learning Forum 2024 with the theme “Digital Innovation in Public Practice” in Abuja yesterday.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the chief executive officer of eHealth Africa Clinics, Adams Thompson, emphasised the transformative potential of digital platforms in breaking down barriers to healthcare access.
“We are not doing this for fancy stuff,” Thompson stated. “We want to do it so that people in rural areas can have equitable access to healthcare.
“If your grandmother gets sick and the nearest facility is two hours away, digital platforms can make it possible for a doctor to provide a first-hand assessment and prescription. This can even facilitate a referral process where she can be picked up from home and taken to a facility.”
Thompson highlighted the importance of a human-centred approach in developing these digital innovations, ensuring that they are tailored to meet the actual needs of the users.
“This approach allows users to provide input, making sure the solutions we deploy are practical and address real challenges,” he added.
Ota Afigbe, director of Partnership Programs at Health Africa, underscored the importance of data in driving digital transformation in the health sector.
Afigbe explained, “Our focus is to harness insights from key stakeholders in Nigeria and across Africa. We need to ensure that data is not just collected for its own sake but is used to inform decisions that improve health outcomes.”
Afigbe also 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.
“This event served as a platform to advocate for a unified approach to digital transformation, emphasizing the importance of integrity in data usage.”
Speaking on government support for digital innovation in the health sector, Afigbe praised the Nigerian government’s supportive stance towards digital transformation.
“The federal government’s body language is very positive and encouraging, and there is political will at both the presidency and state levels to support and advance digital innovation in healthcare.
This collaborative approach between the private sector and government agencies is vital for successfully implementing digital health solutions.
The event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to communicate their needs and expectations to government representatives, ensuring that policies align with the sector’s evolving needs.”
On his part, the incident manager at the Polio Emergency Operations Center in Katsina, Dr Kabir Suleiman, highlighted practical examples of how digital tools are already making an impact.
He explained, “Digital innovation has transformed routine data collection from hardcopy to electronic formats.”
Dr Suleiman emphasised that embracing digital technology is crucial for strengthening the health system, particularly in areas where traditional methods fall short.
He called on all health stakeholders to embrace these advancements to ensure a more robust and responsive healthcare system.
