By: Felix Ikpotor
Chief Executive Officer of SaveALife Mission Hospital, Dr. Richard Okoye says the hospital is deploying technology to cushion the effect of the mass exodus of Nigerian doctors abroad.
Recall that Nigeria experienced a mass movement of medical personnel abroad since after the COVID-19 pandemic era. The situation popularly referred to as ‘jakpa’ has left many Nigerian hospitals and facilities bereft of quality manpower and sufficient personnel.
However, Okoye said he was divinely inspired to intervene in this crisis situation through deployment of appropriate and specialised technology to fill the void created by the exodus of doctors.
Briefing journalists at the facility located in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, Okoye said the hospital which prides itself as the first digitalised medical facility in the entire continent of Africa has gone ahead to develop an application, MyHomeClinic that can monitor and help doctors attend to patients in real-time situations.
He explained that the MyHomeClinic app, is designed to allow patients to access healthcare services remotely without necessarily visiting the hospital for every medical need.
Through the platform, patients can access telemedicine services, connect with healthcare professionals, register with the hospital, book appointments and access other healthcare services from wherever they are.
The digital approach is aimed at improving convenience and accessibility, particularly for patients who may face challenges travelling to a hospital for routine consultations or other healthcare needs.
According to Okoye, technology is central to the hospital’s broader vision of redefining how healthcare is accessed and delivered, adding that the digital model moves healthcare beyond the traditional hospital environment by allowing patients to connect with healthcare professionals through digital platforms.
He said the application is available on the various internet platforms for healthcare seekers to download and use, stressing that the hospital aims to curb medical tourism abroad by ensuring that best healthcare services are provided locally in Nigeria.
”The summary of this engagement is that today SaveALife Mission Hospital has been able to become a prototype of what you will see in a healthcare industry in a very short while.
”What we have been able to achieve today is, SaveALife Mission Hospital being the first fully digitalized hospital in Africa. We have bridged the gap of ‘Jakpa syndrome’, that people travel out of the country and fear of Nigeria having the lowest life expectancy, that will be reversed in a very short while. Now, hopefully in the next 1 or 2 years, you will see Nigerian life expectancy can upwards in nature, ” Okoye assured.
Okoye who also conducted journalists round the facility, displayed some medical techniologies available at the hospital including a 24 hours patients monitoring room, blood pressure monitor, digitally customised ambulance and other equipments in the hospital.
