The urgent need for policy reform to accommodate digital health innovations is imperative. And, indeed, it is now time for Africa to embrace telemedicine.
This was said by Dr Esperance Luvindao, a distinguished medical healthcare practitioner and Founder of MENGA Healthcare Technology.
Dr Luvindao was speaking yesterday at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Lusaka, Zambia, where she was one of several distinguished African health practitioners invited to speak by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The conference, which is the largest public health gathering on the African continent, started on 27 November and concludes on 30 November 2023. The theme for this year is “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.”
Prominent attendees to this year’s conference include the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema; Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who is also being recognized for his work in healthcare; the Director of the Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya; and the Prime Minister of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, alongside other heads of states and global leaders.
In her address, Dr Luvindao, who was representing Namibia, looked at how technology is influencing the healthcare sector. Her talk centred on “Developing the digital health workforce” and drew upon her extensive experience in the healthcare sector.
Dr Luvindao stated that one of the things that she looks forward to being addressed urgently is how Africa can work towards removing outdated health policies and regulations that are limiting the implementation of life-saving technologies.
“The urgent need for policy reform to accommodate digital health innovations is imperative. And right now here, we have a solution that will be a game-changer within the healthcare sector. It is this telemedicine product known as “Menga”, which is aimed at addressing critical gaps within the African health systems,” said Dr Luvindao.
Furthermore, Dr Luvindao would like to see African Governments creating health innovation managers or departments within their Ministries of Health.
“This I believe, will ready us for the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the healthcare sector.”
Additionally, Dr Luvindao also sees the need for capacity building and the creation of an internationally recognized body that can oversee healthcare innovations.
Dr Luvindao’s participation at CPHIA 2023 marks another significant step towards advancing digital health solutions and reinforcing Africa’s position in global healthcare after being invited to speak at the Largest Healthcare technology conference in the world that took place in 2022 in Dubai.
Also during that conference, she discussed pertinent matters related to the advancement of telemedicine in Africa.
In the photo: Dr Esperance Luvindao speaking at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Lusaka, Zambia.
