TechPression

Tag: Health innovation

  • Smart Applications enhances healthcare in Kenya with new digital system

    Smart Applications enhances healthcare in Kenya with new digital system

    Tech company Smart Applications International (Smart) unveiled its cutting-edge digital system earlier this month to improve healthcare services and streamline patient operations.

    Kenya-based Smart Applications International, commonly known as Smart, operates primarily from its headquarters in Nairobi. Established over two decades ago, the company has emerged as a prominent ISO-certified ICT provider, serving 12 African nations and connecting with over 8,000 healthcare providers.

    Smart specialises in delivering innovative technological solutions that enhance operational efficiency and improve healthcare access across the continent.

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    The firm is dedicated to transforming healthcare delivery through innovative digital solutions, significantly improving access to quality healthcare for patients, providers, and insurers alike.

    Empowering healthcare access

    The recent event in Nairobi, ‘Empowering Healthcare Access Through Patient-Centered Care,’ aimed to unite healthcare providers and industry leaders to advance transformative delivery methods and address challenges within Kenya’s healthcare sector.

    Commitment to collaboration

    Group Managing Director Harrison Muiru highlighted the importance of partnerships in healthcare transformation. He stated, “We celebrate not only our shared successes but also the partnerships that continue to shape the future of healthcare in Kenya.” Muiru called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders to enhance patient-centred care across the region.

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    Innovative solutions for healthcare challenges

    Esther Macharia, Head of Hospital Operations, expressed gratitude for the participation of over 250 healthcare facilities utilising Smart’s solutions. She noted that technology is crucial in improving customer service and operational efficiency.

    Macharia showcased innovations like MediSmart, adopted by over 5,000 facilities, and SmartHealth+, which enhances hospital management through workflow automation. These advancements support 18,460 patient visits daily, reflecting significant improvements in healthcare accessibility and outcomes.

  • CDC acknowledges Nigeria’s role in strengthening health Innovation

    CDC acknowledges Nigeria’s role in strengthening health Innovation

    Nigeria has emerged as a leader in health innovation and pandemic preparedness on the African continent. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasised Nigeria’s significant contributions during a visit to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in Abuja.

    The visit aimed to bolster collaborations, share expertise, and contribute to a healthier future for Nigeria and the African continent.

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    African Cooperation for a Healthier Future

    Dr. Kaseya recognized Nigeria’s key role in healthcare innovation and pandemic response. He praised the leadership of Prof. Muhammed Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised the far-reaching influence of Nigerian leadership on the entire continent.

    Dr. Kaseya emphasised the importance of consistent consultations with Minister Pate, underscoring the need for networking and exchanging support, guidance, and information. He expressed pride in Nigeria’s healthcare achievements, particularly the NCDC’s essential contributions to public health.

    The Africa CDC Director-General acknowledged the urgent need for pandemic prevention and response, citing recent outbreaks on the continent, with many being zoonotic in origin. He highlighted the importance of a One Health Approach that involves multiple government ministries working together, underscoring Botswana’s efforts to elevate One Health coordination to the Vice President’s level and suggesting Nigeria consider a similar approach.

    Celebrating African Contributions

    Dr. Kaseya urged the celebration and recognition of African heroes and highlighted how an African scientist used equipment provided by the African CDC to discover the Omicron variant. He praised Nigeria’s emergency operation centres as examples for other countries to follow, emphasising the importance of a coordinated approach to avoid fragmentation.

    Furthermore, he expressed support for local manufacturing and medical industrialization, emphasising the need for Africa’s self-sufficiency in meeting its healthcare needs. Dr. Kaseya acknowledged the challenges related to medical consumption and the necessity of developing programs that enable African countries to support each other.

    He expressed his commitment to returning to continue supporting Nigeria’s healthcare system and emphasised the importance of Africa‘s readiness for future pandemics. He shared the Africa CDC’s vision, focusing on the “4 C’s”: Community involvement, Connectivity (digital), Cash (financial resources), and Commodities (vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics). These elements align with Nigeria’s health agenda and reflect the importance of adequate funding, self-sufficiency in healthcare product manufacturing, a skilled health workforce, and the integration of technology to enhance healthcare systems.

    Coordination and Collaboration for Health Security

    Prof. Muhammed Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted the importance of coordination and collaboration in addressing infectious disease outbreaks. He stressed that infectious diseases respect no boundaries and can quickly spread across countries and continents. Collaborating with organisations like the Africa CDC and other development partners is crucial to keep the continent safer during outbreaks.

    Minister Pate emphasised the interconnectedness of the world and the broader impact of outbreaks on national economies. He cited examples of diseases like Ebola and COVID-19 affecting production and other sectors, underscoring the need for cooperation and coordination within the government and among agencies responsible for healthcare, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and regulatory bodies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director-General of the NCDC, highlighted the agency’s priorities, which include strengthening collaborations with other government ministries, optimising public health laboratory services, and expanding the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System. These efforts reflect Nigeria’s commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and enhancing pandemic preparedness.