The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, in Ondo State has called on the federal government to deploy technology and innovation to transform the medical care in Nigeria.
Hammed Ninalowo, a US trained Double- boarded Diagnostic and Vascular/Interventional Radiologist and Founder of IRDOCNIGERIA, made the call on Saturday at the opening ceremony of the second Faculty of Clinical Sciences Conference of the institution.
Showcasing the remarkable transformation that can occur in medical care at the conference, aptly themed “Transforming Medical Care in Nigeria through Technology and Innovation”, Ninalowo, chronicled how he and his team have been able to deliver Interventional Radiology care to Nigerian and Sub-Saharan African patients.
According to him, technology transfer and up skilling have helped not only to record many firsts by his team, but to localise their global expertise by using local team to carry out their operations, thereby limiting capital flight from Nigeria.
“In the last 24 months, we have treated 29 irons in about 27 patients. 23 out of the 27 of these patients are fully recovered. If you look at the local surgical data, where the mortality rate is about 47 per cent, we are doing much better now,” he said.
Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, in her welcome remarks emphasised the need for inclusive leadership.
According to her “Diversity, equity and inclusion must not be afterthoughts; they must be embedded into the very foundation of our healthcare transformation.”
The Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health maintained that even though the challenges facing our health care are real, but encouraged that every challenge is also an invitation to innovate.
She, however, advocated for the collaboration among all the stakeholders in the health sector, “through fostering collaboration among clinicians, researchers, technologists, and policymakers, we can craft solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable and scalable.”
While Oluseyi Adejumo, the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences explained why UNIMED, as the premier University of medical sciences is taking the lead in the deployment of technology and innovation to medical care in Nigeria.
He said, “This gathering is coming at a time when the world is rapidly progressing in technological interventions and artificial intelligence. The healthcare space is not left out and it has become clear more than ever, that technology has numerous and vital roles to play in the practice of medicine, in this current age. We must therefore leverage on these potentials and innovations to improve our healthcare delivery system if we do not want to be left behind!”
