July 2024 - eHealth Africa

Connect, Learn, Innovate: Why You Should Attend the Insights Learning Forum (ILF) 2024

Posted on July 15, 2024September 5, 2024 by Moshood Isah

Connect, Learn, Innovate: Why You Should Attend ILF 2024

Africa is on the brink of a healthcare transformation, one driven by the power of digital innovation. The Insights Learning Forum (ILF) is at the forefront of this movement, catalyzing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of groundbreaking solutions.

Born from the success of the Insights by eHA webinar series, ILF has rapidly evolved into an indispensable platform for digital and public health professionals. As Dr. David Akpan, Deputy Director of Programs and Partnerships at eHA, aptly stated, “We are building a national collaboration with this forum to advance knowledge and give people the opportunity to learn what other ideas can be incorporated into their digital innovations. This whole essence is to ensure that we are all building people-centered digital solutions that are scalable and interoperable.”

At its core, ILF is a community of passionate individuals united by a shared vision of a healthier Africa. It’s a space where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are forged, and challenges are transformed into opportunities. By bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds, ILF fosters a rich environment for learning and growth.

The 2024 edition of ILF promises to be even more impactful, with a focus on “Digital Transformaton in Public Health Practice: Innovations and Impact.” As Atef Fawaz, eHealth Africa’s executive director, emphasized, “This high-level forum will bring together digital and public health experts from across the world to harness the power of technology and collaboration in pioneering groundbreaking solutions to address the evolving health challenges facing Africa.”

One of the key areas of focus at ILF 2024 is the optimization of geospatial data for disaster response and public health preparedness. By leveraging location-based information, healthcare providers and policymakers can better anticipate and respond to emergencies, saving lives and minimizing the impact of crises.

Another critical theme is mastering public health emergency management. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of robust emergency response plans. ILF 2024 will delve into best practices and strategies for effectively managing public health crises, ensuring that Africa is better prepared for future challenges.

Digital campaigns play a vital role in promoting health and preventing diseases. ILF will explore innovative approaches to digital campaign planning and monitoring, empowering organizations to reach and engage communities effectively. Additionally, the forum will address the challenges and opportunities of disease prevention and surveillance, with a focus on early detection and response.

Food security is a pressing issue in many parts of Africa. ILF 2024 will showcase how digital solutions can be harnessed to improve food production, distribution, and access. Technology indeed can play a crucial role in ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food.

ILF offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from experts, and contribute to building a healthier Africa. Whether you’re a seasoned digital health professional or just starting your journey, there’s something valuable for everyone at this event.

By attending ILF 2024, you’ll gain insights into the latest trends and innovations, network with influential leaders, and leave inspired to make a difference. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare in Africa.

Date: July 31, 2024
Time: 9 AM to 5 PM
Location: Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria
Register now to attend virtually: https://bit.ly/ILF24-Online

Let’s work together to create a future where technology empowers communities and improves lives.

eHealth Africa Merges LoMIS Solutions for a More Efficient Healthcare System

Posted on July 12, 2024August 22, 2024 by Favour Oriaku

By Favour Oriaku

In a major advancement for digital health, eHealth Africa (eHA) combines its LoMIS Stock and LoMIS Deliver solutions into a unified platform called LoMIS Suite. This effort is backed by the Digital Health Innovation Accelerator Program (DHIAP), launched in 2021 by the WFP Innovation Accelerator and BMZ digilab, an initiative of the German government’s development agency (BMZ) in collaboration with GIZ, KfW (the German development bank), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In 2023, eHA’s project was chosen as one of five finalists for the WFP Sprint Programme, granting them financial aid, mentorship, and access to a network of experts and stakeholders for knowledge sharing.

These initiatives empower eHA to go beyond just technology. We envision a future where healthcare is reliable and accessible for everyone. This future empowers mothers to protect their children from preventable diseases, equips healthcare workers with dependable data and supply chains, and grants communities the healthcare they deserve.

Successful User Acceptance Testing of LoMIS Suite

To further this initiative, eHealth Africa conducted User Acceptance Testing (UAT) of the LoMIS Suite in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The UAT included training on new features, a live application demonstration, test scenarios, user feedback sessions, and final approvals.

Participants included prominent figures like Dr. Larai Aliyu Tambuwal (Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency), Dr. Bilyaminu Balarabe Sifawa (Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Sokoto), and Abdullahi Abubakar Danzabuwa (Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Kano State), among others.

According to Dayo Akinleye, the technical project lead, “The new LoMIS Suite offers a single administrative interface, stock validation, notification alerts, and equipment maintenance features to enhance user experience and boost last-mile efficiency.” The session was highly interactive, with participants sharing their expectations and expressing satisfaction with the LoMIS Suite.

“The application will simplify our work and improve overall efficiency,” said Dr. Larai Aliyu Tambuwal. “It also fosters accountability and transparency in our operations.”

Collaboration Drives Innovation

Following the training, Fatima Howeidy, the WFP LoMIS Accelerator Project manager, led a tour of the eHealth Africa office in Abuja. The delegation was welcomed by top executives, including board member Andrew Karlyn, Executive Director Atef Fawaz, and directors from various departments.

Board member Andrew Karlyn expressed his appreciation to the stakeholders for their participation. He emphasized eHealth Africa’s commitment to developing digital solutions for public health, driven by user feedback and success stories. Ota Akhigbe, Director of Partnerships and Programs, stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration in advancing these solutions. She reiterated eHealth Africa’s openness to partnerships for the benefit of communities in Nigeria and Africa.

Dr. Larai Aliyu Tambuwal, representing the delegates, commended eHealth Africa’s management for their dedication to supporting healthcare advancements in Sokoto and Kano states, where LoMIS was previously piloted. She highlighted eHealth Africa’s unwavering support for primary healthcare in Sokoto, even when other organizations have withdrawn.

Transforming Healthcare with Digital Solutions

By merging LoMIS Stock and LoMIS Deliver, eHealth Africa isn’t just innovating, we are transforming healthcare across Nigeria and beyond. With continued support from initiatives like DHIAP and the WFP Sprint Programme, eHA strives to ensure every child thrives in good health, every healthcare worker has the best tools, and every community receives the healthcare they deserve. eHealth Africa’s journey exemplifies the power of digital solutions in achieving health equity and improving lives.

eHealth Africa’s Digital Innovation Takes Center Stage at the Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS)

Posted on July 8, 2024August 22, 2024 by Moshood Isah

by Moshood Isah

Nigeria and indeed the African region have continued to endure a series of public health emergencies, with the most recent being the cholera outbreak affecting more than 21 states. These and other issues necessitate engagement that brings stakeholders together to improve disease surveillance and response. One such engagement held recently was the Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS). The summit is a platform for innovators, academics, entrepreneurs, researchers, regulators, policymakers, and development partners to share knowledge and experience in digital health across Africa.

The 2024 edition of the summit, with the theme “Digital Transformation of Health Systems: What, Why, and How?”, featured industry experts from around the world. In the presence of the Honorable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Commissioner of Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, eHealth Africa, and other organizations displayed crucial digital health solutions currently being used to address public health emergencies.

During the summit, eHealth Africa hosted a panel session where it discussed a series of digital innovations and how instrumental these solutions have been in public health and disease surveillance. The session, moderated by David Akpan, Deputy Director of Programs and Partnerships, featured Andrew Karlyn, a board member at eHealth Africa; Dr. Emmanuel Agogo, Director of Pandemic Threats at the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND); Dr. Monique Aaron Foster, Deputy Director of Programs at the Sierra Leone Division of Global Health Protection, Global Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Ubong Okon, Deputy Director of Programs and Impact at eHealth Africa; and Motunrayo Bello, Chief Executive Officer of Womenovate.

In the words of Atef Fawaz, the Executive Director of eHealth Africa, after the session, “Digital innovation is the future of health and the world in general. If we want to avoid the next pandemic, we must build on existing digital solutions. Technology has helped in responding to health emergencies in the past, and it will help in the future.”

Another key highlight of the event was the technical session moderated by Kazeem Balogun, Program Manager at eHealth Africa, which featured the demonstration of Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (eIDSR). As revealed by Deputy Director of Global Health Informatics and ICT Operations, Abdulhamid Yahaya, the eIDSR is an optimized system created to improve the flow of information within health systems. This allows accurate and early detection of disease outbreaks right from the communities to the highest level of intervention. According to Abdulhamid, “This is an opportunity to reignite and energize stakeholders to drive the utilization of the eIDSR solution to improve early detection of disease outbreaks in our communities.”

The demo session was preceded by a technical session on leveraging digital innovation to strengthen early warning systems for early detection of outbreaks using an ecosystem approach, led by Dr. Emmanuel Agogo. He explained the importance of effective data flow during disease surveillance and how it helps in developing early warning systems from the communities to health facilities, state, and national levels.

eHealth Africa team after a panel session at ADHS

While commending the insightful presentations, the Director of Programs and Partnerships at eHealth Africa, Ota Akhigbe, emphasized the need to consider all stakeholders playing an active role in promoting the early detection of disease outbreaks. She said the public sector is crucial in providing population data, while the private sector leverages its capabilities to develop innovative solutions and the academia contributes research to bring out learning points.

To reecho the words of Dr. Tunji Alausa, “Digital health innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity.” Thus, conversations like this should remain at the forefront of national discourse. The conversation around digital health and the innovative use of digital technology in advancing public health cannot be overstated. In furtherance of this conversation, eHealth Africa is delighted to announce the second edition of the Insights Learning Forum, an annual event dedicated to advancing digital health in public health practice.

The 2024 edition of this high-level forum will be held on July 31st, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja with the theme “Digital Innovations in Public Health Practice: Innovations and Impact.”

Click here to learn more and register to attend.

OUTREACH: EHEALTH AFRICA, CLINIC COLLABORATE TO TACKLE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Posted on July 4, 2024August 22, 2024 by eHealthAfricaAdmin

Disease Surveillance, Laboratory Systems, Health Delivery Systems, Polio Eradication, Public Health Emergency

Hypertension is a major public health problem in Nigeria, with prevalence of 37.5%. This means that nearly 4 out of 10 Nigerian adults have hypertension. Similarly the prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception; an estimated 7% of adults in Nigeria have diabetes, making it among the most common cardiovascular diseases in the country.

Unfortunately, lack of access to quality and affordable hypertension and diabetes services in rural communities and primary health care is a major concern. This is largely due to disparity in access to quality healthcare, especially between rural and urban areas in Nigeria as a result of economic, social, geographic, and health workforce factors. For instance, the secondary health facilities where the few drugs are, with the facility for testing and the medical professionals are far from the rural communities, making access difficult. This is exacerbated by the high cost of medications, making it difficult for some clients to afford the treatment they need, resulting in low treatment outcomes.

Thus, adapting and digitizing the World Health Organisation Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health care, eHealth Africa is collaborating with the EHA Clinic Reaching Everyone with Accessible Community Healthcare (REACH) program to reach out to marginalized communities with healthcare interventions. This, according to the Project Manager Lucy Okoye, is aimed at improving access to quality care and affordable services for persons with hypertension and diabetes and others at risk.

She said, “Social mobilization activities will increase rural communities’ knowledge of hypertension and diabetes”, saying the identification of risk factors and the signs of hypertension and diabetes will likely result in the adoption of a preventive healthy lifestyle and prompt seeking of treatment. Another potential impact of the intervention according to her is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and improve the health and well-being of the target communities, helping people to live longer and lead healthier lives.

In February, eHealth Africa supported the free medical outreach conducted in the Kuje community of the Federal Capital Territory and Gyadi-Gyadi community of Kano state. According to Adawiya, Mahmud Ila, Product and Quality Assurance Coordinator at the EHA REACH clinic said the outreach is an opportunity to reach the people accessible and to provide free healthcare within the community.

“We are having an outreach where we see hypertension and diabetic patients,we measure the blood pressure and fasten blood sugar.” If there is a need for us to give hypertensive and glycine medication we give them which is going to be free for 6 months”, she said.

She said, the economic realities in developing countries like Nigeria limits citizens especially the older generation from accessing good medical care. She said, “You know how the economy is in Nigeria; economically it’s hard for them to go to the hospital so we are just trying to make an impact in the community”.

Speaking on community acceptance and mobilization strategy for the outreach, Adawiya said, the partners leveraged on its Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) to discuss the impact of the intervention with traditional leaders and community influencers.

Community Feedback

Zainab Abdullahi is a resident of Kasuwan Dare area of Gyadi-Gyadi community of Kano state. She heard of the REACH Clinic Outreach through community influencers. “Now they checked our BP,Blood sugar level and from here we will proceed to see the doctor”, she said.

Zainab lauded the outreach initiative saying the community is receptive to ideas like this. “the hospital environment is clean and welcoming and this is why you can see close to 100 people coming for this outreach”. “If they can spread their tentacles and establish this kind of hospital in all areas, we will be happy so that everyone will visit the nearest hospital rather than going far from home to access healthcare”, she said. There is also a need to have additional doctors to attend to a growing number of patients in a bid to reduce waiting time, she said.

Ahmed Salisu Musa has spent 45 years in the community. He expressed his excitement saying the outreach has brought good healthcare delivery to his doorstep. “They took my blood samples, gave me some medications and I was told, I am not diabetic”, he said

He said, “as a community leader myself, I am glad to have witnessed what is happening and will pull in more people to come and get checked.” Musa called for increased mobilization of citizens and more importantly expansion of the intervention to reach other communities.

Source: OutREACH: eHealth Africa, Clinic Collaborate to Tackle Non-Communicable Diseases

Tagged: Polio eradication

Trailblazing Excellence: Celebrating Trailblazers of the 2024 Womenovate Award

Posted on July 2, 2024September 5, 2024 by Favour Oriaku

By Uforo Umoh

According to the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP), women represent only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and in most STEM fields at the college level, men significantly outnumber women. The gender gap is particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs, like computer science and engineering. In recent times, in the ever-evolving world of technology, women are not just participating—they are leading, innovating, and reshaping the industry. To explore the dynamic contributions of women in Technology and Engineering, we spoke with a few trailblazers who are breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. Their stories are as diverse as their roles, but they share a common thread of resilience, passion, and pioneering spirit.

This year, the Womenovate 2024 Women in Technology and Engineering Award spotlighted some remarkable women who exemplify excellence in their fields. Some of the distinguished recipients include; Blessing Emmanuel, Diligence Saviour, and Maduabum Ogochukwu Ifeatu, all from eHealth Africa. The Women in Technology and Engineering Summit and Awards, a prestigious event put together by Womenovate, celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of women who are revolutionizing the fields of Engineering and Technology. Womenovate is a platform that provides Nigerian women the resources to build amazing careers and businesses in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM) industries.

Working in tech, a field traditionally dominated by men can present unique challenges for women. However, the experiences of these women highlight resilience and determination. For Blessing Emmanuel, an IT Support, her tech journey was inspired by the joy she finds in helping others resolve technical issues. “The satisfaction that comes from helping others is immensely rewarding,” she remarked. According to Blessing, she has not faced any significant gender-based challenges in her career, crediting eHealth Africa’s inclusive culture. “I haven’t experienced any form of gender discrimination because I am a woman,” she said.

Diligence, on the other hand, shared an unsettling experience during the early days of her career when she had to climb a ladder to fix a surveillance camera. A passerby expressed outrage at seeing a woman performing such a task. “That situation unsettled me”, she shared. She used this experience as motivation to keep pushing forward in her career. She also recounted an incident where she was told after a job interview that the role was intended for a man. “I would have preferred a rejection email rather than telling me the reason why they didn’t want to hire me was because of my gender,” she reflected.

Diligence Saviour, a Business Application Coordinator, originally aspired to become a medical doctor due to her father’s influence, Diligence discovered her passion for computer science during her university years. “After my first year, I developed a passion for computer science and decided to continue in that field,” she explained. Diligence’s role at eHealth Africa involves managing critical software applications like Sage X3, which is used across all of eHA’s offices globally. Ogochukwu Ifeatu, who serves as a Technical Project Manager (Product Owner) at eHealth Africa, was drawn to her role by her love for managing new projects. “What attracted me to this role was the love of managing a new project from start to finish,” she shared. Ogochukwu’s career began during her IT days in school, where she worked with a small tech startup. The challenges she faced, particularly in debugging codes, were both daunting and exciting, sparking her passion for tech.

eHealth Africa implements policies and practices that address gender diversity. These include promoting gender equity in hiring, pay, and advancement, as well as actively working to dismantle racial and ethnic biases that affect gender inclusivity by prioritizing gender inclusion. These stories are a testament to the impact that dedicated and talented individuals can make in the world of technology and global health.

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