Company LOGO ICT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES, PROSPECTS, AND MILESTONES. Engr. Adeolu O. Odusote Managing Director DEE-IY LIMITED (ICT & ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS), and Contributor of the Health Sector Component in Nigeria’s ICT4D Plan Document

Presentation Content 1. Brief overview of Nigeria’s Health Sector 2. The need for ICT use in health sector development 3. Nigeria’s ICT4D National Strategy and Plan 4. Nigeria’s Health Sector ICT4D Strategy and Plan 5. The Prospects, Challenges, and Milestones 6. Conclusions

Nigeria’s Health Sector – An Overview  With a recent life expectancy rating of 49 years, Nigeria’s health sector leaves much room for improvement.  A health sector reform program is presently being driven with the following content,  Assessment of the nation’s national health system  Pursuit of disease abatement programs  Population growth,  Health management information system, and  Monitoring and Evaluation (using a defined seven-step work strategy)

ICT need in health sector development  Information for Development Program (InfoDEv) in 2006 carried out an extensive work in this area. Concluded that the use of ICT is definitely advantageous.  The research led to the suggestion of the following as approaches for ICT engagement.  Keep technology simple, relevant, and local,  Build on what is already on ground,  Involve users in the design,  Strengthen absorptive capacity,  Involve participation of users in monitoring and evaluation,  Use communication strategies appropriately, and  Continue to seek ways of doing things

Nigeria’s ICT4D National Strategy and Plan  The Nigerian ICT4D national effort was an offshoot of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) carried out by the United Nation Economic Community for Africa (UNECA),  This is a strategic plan that has been worked upon to cover the period 2008 to  The national plan covered the following national sectors,  Human Resource Development  Electronic Government  ICTs in Infrastructure Development  ICTs in Education  ICTs in Health  ICTs in Community  Agriculture Sector Development  Private Sector Development  Governance and Legislation Framework  National Security and Law Enforcement  Research and Development

Nigeria’s Health Sector ICT4D Strategy and Plan National Health Information System Telemedicine Practitioners’ Data Exchange Public Awareness in Disease Prevention ICT in Human Resource Development, Training & Capacity Building Health sector ICT4D strategy and Plan Drivers

The Prospects, Challenges, and Milestones  Nigeria is one of the five countries in Africa that have completed their national ICT4D document.  The document presently awaits the endorsement of the Federal Executive Council. This is taking an unduly long time.  Providing the funds to run the various sector plans and ensuring that funds provide are properly used will be a major challenge here.  There will be a strong need for absorptive capacity building in all the areas of the ICT4D plan.  There will be the need for proper monitoring and evaluation.

Conclusions  The use of ICT is definitely a positive driver in the development of the health sector of nations and developing countries like Nigeria must take advantage of this.  ICT for development strategies and plans in nation must be backed up with the political will at the highest level of national leadership to execute them.  The availability of an ICT4D National Strategy and Action Plan document for any nation is a great achievement milestone for the country and poses great prospects for national development.  Both national and international collaborations must be sought to ensure the achievement of the national ICT4D strategy and plan.

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