Dr. Jacob Kassam, a former member of Plateau State’s House of Assembly in Nigeria, announced that in 2022, a total of $170 million (equivalent to 11.56 billion Gambian Dalasi) was invested in health technology across Africa.
He shared this information during a meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament in Guinea Conakry, hosted by the joint committee on Health, Education, Science and Culture, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industry, and the Private Sector.Dr. Kassam emphasized the growing impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on health services in sub-Saharan, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa. Despite this progress, he noted that some African countries lag behind the global standards in technology implementation. However, sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of technological infrastructure and education initiatives involving ICT.The presentation aimed to help the ECOWAS Parliament develop legislative measures to strengthen existing frameworks, focusing on telecommunications and information technology’s role in improving health education and services across West Africa.Dr. Kassam highlighted the longstanding role of telecommunications in healthcare, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, making tele-health a widespread practice.
He believes that telecommunications will remain a crucial component of healthcare innovation for years to come, especially in improving connectivity and patient data security. Furthermore, Dr. Kassam discussed the importance of sexual and reproductive health education, emphasizing its role in preventing HIV and other STIs, while promoting healthy lifestyles and gender equality. He also cited a study that found 92% of African health professionals have access to technology for online education, with over 45% having already participated in such programs.On the African Union’s continental strategy for youth health and education, Dr. Kassam stated that the initiative aims to improve young people’s physical, mental, and reproductive health, while fostering life skills and values that contribute to better learning and well-being.
He urged for the review of existing e-health strategies to better align with the broader goals of West Africa’s telecommunication and technology framework in healthcare, especially for rural areas.
