The Promise of Nigeria’s Digital Health Journey
The Nigerian Supply Chain Integration Project (NSCIP) is another project that will utilize technology to optimize our management of health supply chain data and information, so we are able to plug leakages, minimize stockouts and make the most of our health commodities by delivering the right commodity, to the right place, in the right quantities, at the right time.
The country’s health intervention in the troubled North-East is relying on technology to help address challenges of reporting and data collection, so also is our Polio Eradication & Disease Outbreak Response efforts strongly supported by digital technologies through geo-spatial mapping and tracking of vaccination teams.
The ongoing efforts to strengthen our primary healthcare system, including the revitalization of 10,000 Primary Health care Centres, will also see an increase in the use of appropriate technology to support the delivery of primary care.
We shall work with the World Health Organization to adopt, adapt and launch a Nigerian instance of the Digital Health Atlas, a Global Public Goods, which we shall use to support the coordination of our digital health investments and initiatives.
If technology can be deployed to work effectively in the financial and other sectors, there is no reason or excuse why we cannot replicate same successes in the health sector.
From data collection and management to health insurance management to stock visibility to telemedicine to human resource management, we will be increasing our use of digital technologies to extend the reach and scope of our health care provision to support the attainment of UHC. The Federal Ministry of Health - through the National eHealth Programme Management Office - welcomes all stakeholders to partner with us and make the most of investments in Digital Health in Nigeria.
I cannot conclude this without paying tribute to the 157 souls that died in the Ethiopian Airline crash of March 10th, 2019. A number of them were heading to a United Nations Climate conference in Nairobi. We pray for the repose of their souls, the strength for their loved ones to bear the loss and the fortitude (for us all) to continue to pursue their dreams and aspirations of a better world, for us and generations to come. We also pray for the lives lost in the building that collapsed in Lagos Island recently, as we commend the efforts of the health and rescue workers.
Relevant links
· Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria
· Nigeria’s National eHealth Strategy
· Broadband Commission’s Working Group on Digital Health 2017 Report
· National eHealth Programme Management Office (http://olayemi.sotomi@fedcs.gov.ng)
Prof Isaac F. Adewole FAS, FSPSP, FRCOG, DSc (Hons)
Honourable Minister of Health,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
March 2019