FG to migrate tertiary, secondary health care from manual to electronic health system

THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, stated that efforts were being put in place to migrate tertiary and secondary health care delivery facilities from manual to electronic health management information system.

This, according to the government, would enable health care practitioners to be more effective in their service delivery.

Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr (Mrs) Habiba Lawal made this known at the 4th international workshop on the application of ICT in Education, Healthcare and Agriculture held at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) Conference Centre, Abuja.

Dr Lawal, whose message was delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of the SGF, Dr (Mrs) Amina Shamaki said that the sector was yet to be greatly impacted by ICT as its education counter-part, pointing out that the government was aware of the tremendous impact ICT could bring to the health care delivery system as a country.

“Furthermore, other areas such as tele-medicine (the delivery of clinical presence in remote health services), mobile health (using mobile communications for providing remote health services and information) are being explored with a number of public-private partnerships to assuage the cost of implementation as well as ensure its sustainability,” she stressed.

The acting SGF then assured that the government would continue to provide the needed support to advance the level of ICT deployment in Nigeria.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said the government was confident that with hard work and determination, Nigeria would succeed and the future too was bright.

He stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has resolved to ensure that Nigeria moved in the same direction with other countries of the world in utilizing science, technology and innovation to drive a diversified economy that would effectively utilize a dynamic ICT infrastructure to help transform Nigeria into a great nation that was peaceful and prosperous.

Also in his goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, whose Deputy Director, ICT/Administration in the ministry, Mrs Onyeka Anyaoku delivered, said engaging technology skills in teacher education would go a long way in bridging the gap between those who could afford the cost of quality education and those who could not.

“It is hoped that the intentions of this project being launched today will complement the ongoing efforts in the various sectors particularly education,” he added.