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eClinic: Powering Nigeria’s Healthcare System Using Technology

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

Sponsored by: H&H


A patient walks or is aided by someone else into the reception of a hospital. They walk to the counter and inform the attending nurse that they are seeking medical attention. The nurse asks, “do you have a file?” and the patient responds in the affirmative.

The nurse goes to inventory room, and 15 or more minutes are lost. The patient waits then the nurse returns with a file that looks like it is on the brink of falling apart from natural causes. “Sit down and wait for the doctor”, the nurse instructs the patient, motioning for them to join the queue.


The above illustration is a common scene in hospitals across Nigeria. Delayed services and bureaucratic processes slow down delivery; but this problem now has a solution. Innovators in the tech space have stepped up to tackle the inefficiency that has bedeviled the healthcare system in Nigeria for too long.


One of such tech players is Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, with its relaunch of the eClinic platform, a platform that comes packed with possibilities for healthcare givers.


Imagine walking into the hospital, like the patient in the opening scenario and, in a few minutes, you’re face-to-face with the doctor; received your diagnosis and picked your drugs off the counter – all seamlessly done. Waiting time is drastically reduced.


Now, what exactly does the eClinic platform do in simple terms? The eClinic platform was created with the sole purpose of tackling challenges that plague Nigeria’s medical sector.

One of such problems is that of medical inventory. The current system of keeping medical records of patients using pen-and-paper method is neither reliable nor efficient.


With the eClinic platform, medical records can be easily accessed with just a few clicks on the computer. These records are sent to a central data collection centre that makes data sourcing easier for medical professionals, thereby driving efficiency.


In a recent statement from the organisation, Interswitch listed, although not exhaustively, other features that make the eClinic platform a super app.

These features include inventory and stock keeping, patient appointment and queue management, medical and insurance billing, assets management, integration to third-party systems via API, quick messaging and notification, medical coding, backup, and multi-location support, among others.


The eClinic platform has been described as a patient-focused healthcare service, bringing new meaning to healthcare services in Nigeria.

It is also worthy to note that the services provided by the platform are designed to create trust between patients and their doctors; with patients knowing that their medical records are in safe hands.


This trust has been exemplified across over 12 states in Nigeria where over 350 hospitals use the eClinic platform to aid healthcare professionals to deliver quality services while boosting

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Universal Archaivar Elders To Host Free Medical Outreach 

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

As Part of its Continual Efforts to give back to the society, A renowned Social Cultural group known as Kegite Club International under the agies of The Universal Archaivar Elders (UAE) Forum also known as Egbe Agba Elemi (EAE) is set to organize a day Free Medical Outreach tagged COMO in Nigeria. 

August24news.com gathered that Egbe Agba Elemu (EAE) is of professional body of Elders from the Kegite Club base in diaspora, The United States of America precisely while it’s members is procure to those who have been members of the club for at least 35 years and the membership cuts across the globe and its committed to philanthropy gesture. 

Our Correspondent gathered that the One day free Community medical outreach tagged (COMO) will be held on the 5th of April, 2025 at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

(EAE) is a combination of great minds of both sex who have clock over 35 years in the Comradium and base in diaspora.

According to the National President of the Egbe Agba Elemu (EAE) who also doubles as the Grand Kord of the Forum, Bashorun DeleOla Fathy Daramola told August24news.com that “health is wealth, wealth is health, we are very committed to the well being of our members and non members, we also complementing the government effort is placing our health sector on the world map, we have benefitted so much in this club and it’s hig time to give back to our community”. Daramola stated.

Speaking further, Daramola appeal to Patients to be on sit by 9.am so as to meet their prefer qualified Doctors.

Daramola said, lots of drugs are already in places for patients to receive for free after been administer by a Medical doctor, because it was given to the Universal Archaivar Elders for free by the United States of America government. 

Some of the illness expected to Diagnose during the free medical Outreach includes Diabetes, High blood pressure, Malaria, HIV, Hypertensive and distribution of recommended Eye glasses to participants.

The Event is Expected to be Chaired by the Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi while an Achaivara Chief of the Club from the Prestigious Lagos State University of Science and Technology (Ilya Lacost) who doubles as the Chairman of Lagos state Civil Service Commission, Chief Kamal Bayewu respectively is expected to deliver keynote speech.

The Universal Archaivar Elders is an International registered Non-governmental organization of Archaiva entities, whose membership of the club is over 35 years, irrespective of their past portfolios while in the higher institutions.

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Power shortage unsettles patients at UCH as FG keeps mum on humongous bills

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The management of University College Hospital, UCH, has accused Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, of forcing the hospital into Band A, stating that despite paying N60 million in the past month, the power company two weeks ago disconnected the health facility.


The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo said despite efforts to meet its obligations, the power company has remained adamant in charging the highest rates and is unfazed by the humanitarian services rendered by the nation’s premier tertiary hospital.


It would be recalled that IBEDC had several times disconnected the hospital this year citing unpaid accumulated debts.


‘’We have been making efforts to pay. IBEDC forced us on Band A. Our latest bill for one month is N99 million. We paid N60 million but they refused to reconnect us’’, said the CMD.


An analysis of payment scheduled offered by the UCH indicates that the power company sent a bill of N723, 095, 841.55 from January 1, 2019 to November 10, 2024 while the hospital has paid N676, 990,174.04. “The distribution company has, against all entreaties, categorised this hospital a business concern”, the CMD lamented.


The hospital management, in a memo circulated on November 5, acknowledged the “chaotic and unbearable experience” arising from the disconnection by IBEDC and pleaded with staff, students and patients to exercise patience while alternative power sources are being strengthened.


“Management has initiated the process to ensure that power is restored to the hospital as soon as possible. Nonetheless, provision of alternative power supply to some critical areas in the hospital, with priority to the service areas which are in high demand, has been put in place through generators and solar panels/inverters, as well as pumping of water to all areas of the hospital,” the memo explained.


Last Monday, families of patients at the health facility protested the persistent power outages bedevilling the hospital. They decried recent epileptic electricity and water supply, claiming that lives of patients may be at risk.


It was reported that members of the hospital’s Public Relations Office tried to pacify the protesters who expressed anger and helplessness, citing harrowing instances where treatment and care have been disrupted due to erratic power supply.
One of the protesters said: “We are tired seeing our loved ones suffering; patients are dying because they cannot receive the medical tests needed for treatment. The outages have not only hindered immediate medical assessments but have also severely complicated ongoing treatments, leaving families in a state of despair.”


But the hospital has dismissed the claims that patients’ lives were at risk during the period of power outage and that the claims do not reflect the current operational status of the hospital.


In an official statement, UCH firmly dismissed the reports as “false and misleading,” assuring the public that the hospital’s utilities remain functional and adequate for patients care.


While acknowledging the severity of incessant power cuts by IBEDC, the public relations department affirmed that despite the power cuts, the hospital made provision for alternative power supply in its critical departments namely operating theatres, intensive care units, and the accident and emergency department.


The lamentation at UCH is experienced by many government hospitals and educational institutions.

The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, was disconnected from public power supply eight weeks ago.


The institution detected an over billing in its record, receiving a monthly bill of N10m from Benin Disco when it consumed power worth about N7m. “We confronted them with metered data of all premises.

They did not like that. They wanted to transfer us to Band A, and forthwith presented us with N25m bill the following month.


“We approached the Courts and got an injunction against arbitrary transfer. Now they went berserk. Our light suddenly developed fault: transformer was not working. When we approached them to fix their transformer, they replied we had taken them to Court.

After the intervention of the state government, they called for a truce! Take case out of court, revert to BAND B. We are in a state of all motions, but no movement,” said a top management staff at the institution.

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Africa CDC Congratulates Democratic Republic of the Congo on Launching Mpox Vaccination Campaign

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) congratulates the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the successful launch of its Mpox vaccination campaign in two high-priority provinces.

This marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to control the Mpox outbreak and safeguard vulnerable populations across the country.


In collaboration with the DRC’s Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, Africa CDC, along with its global partners, including European Union / HERA, United States Government, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting the vaccination of key at-risk groups in Equateur and North Kivu provinces. The campaign will soon expand to additional provinces to ensure more comprehensive coverage.


The arrival of 265,000 doses of the MVA-BN Mpox vaccines, generously donated by the European Union and facilitated by Africa CDC in collaboration with Bavarian Nordic, the Government of the United States, and Gavi, is a significant step toward improving the country’s capacity to manage the outbreak. Africa CDC applauds this collaboration, which underscores the collective global commitment to tackling Mpox in Africa.


“Africa CDC commends the DRC’s swift action in launching the vaccination campaign, which showcases the strength of its public health leadership. By prioritizing vulnerable populations, including frontline health workers and those most at risk, the country is taking critical steps to contain the outbreak. Africa CDC remains committed to working closely with the DRC to ensure vaccines reach those who need them the most, while also working to strengthen health systems to prevent future outbreaks. Our top priority is to secure safe and effective vaccines for children in the next phase of vaccination,” said Africa CDC Director General, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya.


Mpox continues to pose a serious threat, particularly to vulnerable groups such as children, individuals with compromised immune systems, and those living in areas with limited healthcare access. The Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) has been actively engaged in supporting the DRC’s response efforts by providing technical expertise, coordinating vaccine deployment, and offering logistical assistance to ensure effective distribution across affected regions.


Africa CDC also recognizes the crucial role of infection prevention and control measures, community engagement, and public awareness campaigns in curbing the spread of Mpox. These efforts, alongside vaccination, are essential in protecting populations and minimizing the impact of the outbreak.

As part of its commitment to the fight against Mpox, Africa CDC will continue to support DRC and all 16 other affected countries’ response through technical assistance, capacity-building, and coordination with international partners. The vaccination campaign serves as a critical tool in safeguarding public health, and Africa CDC looks forward to further collaborative efforts to protect communities and strengthen Africa’s resilience against future public health threats.

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