African medical experts unite to tackle Africa's healthcare challenges
By Barack Oduor |
The use of technology has helped in reaching the most vulnerable communities in rural areas with drugs and healthcare.
A meeting bringing top medical scientists and doctors from Africa has urged governments to leverage emerging technologies to improve healthcare delivery in the continent.
The meeting organised by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for African Development (AUDA - NEPAD) brings together all economic regions in Africa.
The two-day meeting involved a conversation on the role of regional economic communities in harnessing emerging technologies and research priority settings in the health sector of African Union member states and regional communities.
Dr Julius Simon Otim, a Senior Health Officer at the East African Community Secretariat said the meeting is very key as it comes at a time the continent is grappling with massive challenges in her health sector.
He explained that the use of technology has helped in reaching the most vulnerable communities in rural areas with drugs and healthcare.
He gave the example of Rwanda which is using drones to send drugs to its rural population.
"Other countries can learn from Rwanda which is now using drones to send drugs to its rural populations," said Otim.
The regions represented at the meeting include Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), East African Commission (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development(SADC) and West African Health Organisation(WAHO).
Programme Officer Science, Technology and Innovation at AUDA -NEPAD Hylde - Mbuta Lukovi Seke said the meeting is important to the continent as it creates a platform for the continent to harness synergies on leveraging emerging technologies to improve healthcare systems in the continent.
"We are meeting to discuss how the continent can improve on the use of emerging technologies to fight diseases and build on innovations," said Lukovi Seke.
Dr William Wasswa, a Lecturer and Head of the Department, of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, explained the application of digital technologies in healthcare systems with examples from African countries. He explored the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) to improve healthcare delivery in situations where populations are vulnerable.
Dr Kazeem Abubakar, the Assistant Director (Research) National Center for Technology Management, Abuja, Nigeria led a discussion on the application of drones and blockchain technologies in healthcare systems.
Executive Director of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) implored the importance of creating high-level dialogue on the political and policy environment for harnessing emerging technologies in health.
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