As part of an attempt to increase access to inexpensive and high-quality healthcare, the Edo State Government and the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) have begun using telemedicine to treat underprivileged patients in the state.
Prof. Obehi Akoria, Edo State Commissioner for Health, told journalists at the Oredo Primary Healthcare Centre in Benin City, where patients had a virtual session with foreign medical experts, that the telemedicine program is a follow-up to the earlier free medical outreach program organized by the state government in partnership with ANPA.
“They have consultations with our doctors in the United States of America,” she said, adding that medications advised by international medical experts were provided to the patients after the virtual session. The patients were offered free drugs after the session. Twelve patients had comparable sessions last Saturday, and this has been going on for a while. This is something we want to keep doing.”
“The launch is to notify the world that it has been tried and demonstrated that it is doable,” Prof Akoria said of the Edo Telemedicine Hub, which will be officially opened on Tuesday, June 7. It has benefited some of our members. Our American partners will be in attendance for the launch.”
Mrs. Patience Osazuwa, 75, one of the telemedicine session’s beneficiaries, said her appointment with the foreign medical experts was the result of an earlier appointment with medical officials and Dr. Philip Osehobo, who treated her virtually.