The Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki,has said that his administration is set to launch a telemedicine platform that will leverage the expertise of health care providers abroad to strengthen the existing health care system in the State.
Commissioner for Health in the State, Prof. Obehi Akoria, conveyed the administration’s resolution to journalists after the weekly Executive Council Meeting held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Government House, Benin City, the State capital.
According to the commissioner, the telemedicine platform will avail Edo residents the expertise of doctors and other health care providers abroad.
The telemedicine platform was one of the campaign promises made by the Governor during his campaign for a second term in office.
Telemedicine deploys modern information and communication technology to remotely treat ailments.
“Telemedicine offers health care using digital devices such as computers and smartphones. In most cases, telemedicine uses video conferencing. However, some providers choose to offer care via email or phone messaging.
“Many people use telemedicine with their usual healthcare provider. Others access virtual care using a dedicated telemedicine app,” explained Medicalnewstoday.com.
Prof. Akoria further enjoined residents to take advantage of the ongoing medical outreach in the State being provided by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, in partnership with the State government.
Speaking on efforts to eradicate Lassa Fever in the State, Prof. Akoria said: “Lassa Fever is an embarrassment to us and it is something we are committed to eradicating, and it ties in with the theme of the 2022 World Health Day.
“If we eradicate the particular breed of rat that causes Lassa Fever we will say bye-bye to Lassa Fever. So we will eradicate rats and stop the activities that promote the multiplication of rats such as bush burning which drives the rats. At the last count, we have confirmed 176 cases of Lassa Fever in Edo State.”
She harped on the need to keep the environment clean and avoid things that encourage the vector causing the disease.
“We must take responsibility for our health outcomes.”
She added that EXCO discussed extensively the ongoing upgrade of primary health care centers across the state and expressed the government’s commitment to the project.
“If properly run, primary health care will become the bedrock of our health care system in the State. Despite the negative narratives around PHC in the past, we are committed to making it work in our state,” she said.
Commenting on the 2022 edition of World Health Day marked on April 7th April each year, the commissioner said: “The theme that the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen is very apt to our circumstances and our health, and it is ‘Our Planet Our Health’.
“In domesticating this theme for Edo State, we are saying that we must improve our environment and take ownership to improve our health through a better environment.
“Tomorrow we will be working with citizens of the State to walk the talk as we identify some of the most unpleasant environments in the city and clean them up. This will happen simultaneously across the 18 local councils of the State.”
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Isoken Omo, who spoke on developments in the built sector, said: “Today we gave a report on the ‘Operation Show Your Building Plan’ which we started on March 11, 2022, at Amagba.
“We can gladly report that we have finished the exercise in Amagba and in that time 5,316 properties were visited. We have taken the data and a lot of people have been coming to our office to regularize their building approvals.
“The next area from next week is Ogheghe, if you already have a building plan approved, stick it by your gate and we will not mark your house. We are commencing a sensitization program to further educate Edo residents on the need to get their approvals before commencing construction.”
