It has become expedient for Nigeria to embrace technology to close the healthcare gap between the urban and rural areas, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said. Osinbajo, said this when he inaugurated the Abia Tele-health initiative, – as “Dial-a-doctor -, described it as commendable effort in the healthcare delivery system in the state.
He said in Umuahia that Abia had blazed the trail in the utilisation of Global System of Mobile Telecommunication (GSM) in the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of the state.
“This is an especially exciting project because it is leveraging on available technology, in this case, the mobile phone to deliver affordable healthcare to the people.” Osinbajo said that available records showed that Abia had about 1.5 million mobile phones.
According to him, the state has taken “the lead in utilising the potential that mobile phone has as a means for delivering healthcare for the people”.
“I am told that citizens can through a dedicated telephone line and affordable prepaid cards access medical care through a state-wide network of doctors and communicate.
“The initiative would cut the time spent travelling to see a doctor or waiting in line to see a doctor in a healthcare facility.
“It will make Abia stand out in the healthcare delivery as a people-centred state that is open to life-changing innovation.
“This is a very commendable initiative,” Osinbajo said.
He, however, said that the success of the programme would depend on the willingness of stakeholders to take on feedback and make the adjustments necessary to meet the evolving needs of the target beneficiaries.
According to the Vice President, this initiative would be helpful to the state and other states that would want to copy it.
Osinbajo used the forum to restate the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable.
He further said that the Federal Government had continued to render assistance to the 36 states of the federation, irrespective of their party affiliation.
He said that the gesture was a clear departure from the primordial practice, where past administrations at the centre always limited their assistance to states ruled by the party at the centre.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukanna, said that the programme would make it possible for people to dial a dedicated GSM number and get medical attention from a doctor in the comfort of their homes.
