In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating diversification through industrialisation and digitisation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with relevant development partners to achieve 95% digital literacy coverage in Nigeria by the end of 2030.

Mr. Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General of NITDA, shared this commitment during discussions with e-health Africa, a development partner, during their working visit to the Agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

Inuwa, who stressed the need to work as team in the implementation of digital initiatives that could have a far-reaching impact on Nigerians, told his visitors that seven out of the nine strategic plans which the Ministry of Communications Innovation, and Digital Economy unveiled, NITDA is championing their implementation through its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2024-2027.

The DG stressed the importance of collaboration with relevant bodies and experts to ensure successful policy implementation and expedite results for the country’s overall development.

He said “The seventy per cent national digital literacy coverage by 2027 would be a litmus test for the ambitious 95% digital literacy coverage by 2030.”

He outlined the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan as the foundation for building a resilient tech ecosystem that will strengthen the nation’s pursuit of sustainable economic development.

According to him, NITDA is actively working with development partners like GIZ, the UK government, and the Federal Ministry of Education to revise its curriculum for learning digital skills, facilitating Nigeria’s digital transformation.

In response to the shift in policy, Inuwa stressed the importance of focusing on skills in demand to build a viable tech ecosystem. This approach, according to him, aims to address Nigeria’s digital illiteracy issues and promote digital innovations for a robust and sustainable economy.

The DG highlighted the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s strategic blueprint, tasking NITDA with the implementation of various programs, including AI, Blockchain, IoT, the Nigerian Start-up Act, Data Strategy, and the Digital Economy Bill.

Seeking collaboration with the visiting organisation, Inuwa expressed the need to implement these programs for the betterment of the country. He also acknowledged the under-utilisation of NITDA’s digital literacy centers and pledged further investment in research and capacity building, fostering collaborations with academia, startups, and non-governmental organizations.

Mr. Inuwa disclosed NITDA’s collaboration with the Ministry to implement the 3 Million Tech Talents (3MTT) initiative, addressing the IT gap through interventions like learning centers. Simultaneously, the agency is working to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity and digital trust.

To overcome fears associated with IT and digital services, Inuwa outlined internal reforms, ensuring a psychologically safe environment, organisational excellence, cultural reorientation, automation of government processes, and changing citizens’ mindset for swift adoption of digital innovations.

Earlier, the visiting team from e-health Africa led by Abdulhamid Yahaya, stated that their visit was to formally intimate their activities and other engagements across the country to the agency, which aligns with NITDA’s mandate, being the nations apex IT regulator, and to seek for robust collaboration in the implementation of the National e-health policy with their digital empire.

He gave his assurances that the e-Health Africa is ready and committed to work with NITDA and any other relevant organization to actualize the dreams of the entire Nigerian citizenry.

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TECHDIGEST – As countries undergo a demographic and epidemiological transition, the healthcare demands of the citizen change. These transitions are triggered by improvements in public health and medicine which has meant that some countries have an increasingly ageing population, as children are surviving into adulthood (thanks to improvements in public health). The epidemiological transition has seen a shift in the pattern of diseases from a high burden of infectious diseases to more degenerative non-communicable diseases. Nigeria faces a double burden of disease comprising protracted infectious diseases like HIV, Cholera and a rising number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted access to healthcare services and healthcare delivery, highlighting the importance of digital innovation in healthcare. Globally, health systems worked to limit the spread of the pandemic and mitigate the economic and health impacts. They also scrambled to ensure that access to other healthcare services was not disrupted, and this triggered greater demand for digital health solutions.

Innovations in healthcare
The internet has democratised access to information, and the health tech industry is a fast-growing market worldwide. The health sector in Nigeria is seeing very gradual disruption in digital innovations, however not at the same pace as telecommunications or financial technology. The growth in innovations in the digital health industry can be seen by the recent success of DrugStoc, as the eHealth pharmaceutical distribution start-up was able to secure $4.4 million in Series A funding. Other examples include LifeBank, a blood products company founded by Temi Giwa-Tubosun, the pacesetting female founder. Her organisation has successfully secured funding from multiple investors and in 2021 launched the oxygen plant AirCo.

Currently, digital health exists in various categories, namely mhealth, telehealth, consumer health and wellness, wearables, electronic medical records (EMR), diagnostics, and provider tools. Technologies such as electronic medical records have been in existence for a while and an increasing number of hospitals in Nigeria can boast of functional electronic medical records. Globally, a growing trend of innovation in digital health is related to consumer health and wellness and, more recently, telehealth and mobile health. Telehealth, a technology-enabled remote healthcare service, is forecast to be a game-changer in digital health by 2025.

In 2018, the World Health Organisation estimated that there are 3.81 doctors per 10,000 population in Nigeria. This is more worrisome when extended to specialist doctors; for instance, there are only 250 practising psychiatrists in Nigeria. Telemedicine, when appropriately applied, can help address the perennial human resource shortage facing Nigeria’s health system.

Where telecoms exist, digital health thrives
Nigeria has a lot of potential and a massive opportunity for innovative disruptions that will help to improve its health outcomes. Digital health thrives on the availability of telecommunication and internet services and digital access will have an increasing impact on health and wellbeing outcomes.

The Lancet and Financial Times Commission called for digital technologies to be recognised as a key determinant of health. According to the Nigeria Communications Commission, there were about 195 million active mobile (GSM) users in Nigeria in December 2021, implying that a growing proportion of the adult population has access to mobile phones. Also, mobile internet users are projected to reach 59.7% by 2026. Phone penetration and internet access are essential springboards for revolutionising digital health innovations in Nigeria.

However, the uptake of digital health in Nigeria’s public sector remains generally low. Before the pandemic, digital health was restricted to providing clinical and administrative tools for healthcare professionals and providers. Following the surge in COVID-19 cases, the restrictions and lockdowns led to an acceleration of digital trends and virtual health consultations for patients, especially those on routine health visits and those with non-emergency conditions, which enabled a continuum of care. This growth portends a bright future for digital health in Nigeria.

Consumerism is becoming a widespread phenomenon across every industry, and the healthcare industry is not an exception. In today’s digital era, patients are better informed, and they use the internet, social media, and other technological sources to get more information on their own. Digital innovation has enabled patients to have up-to-date health information, empowering them to demand better access to health services, based on a more informed understanding of improving health and wellbeing.

Boosting digital health through public and private sector involvement

The private sector is a leading provider of healthcare in Nigeria, supporting the efforts of the government. With the private sector accounting for a larger share of healthcare in Nigeria — over 62% — it has enabled the greater introduction of new technologies into the healthcare industry, such as electronic medical records and other e-health tools. The role of the private sector in health technology deployment was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased availability of COVID-19 diagnostics at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, in Nigeria, was enabled by private providers such as 54gene and Flying Doctors. However, the rate of uptake of new technologies is still low compared to the rising health needs of the population.

Nigeria is currently dealing with rising cases of NCDs. It is estimated that over five million Nigerians are living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. There is a National Policy for NCD prevention and control and incorporating digital health into this policy can help boost access to health services, especially in treating and preventing NCDs, in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Nigeria’s health system is faced with a range of challenges, including but not limited to poor health infrastructure and inadequate health workers, harnessing the enormous opportunities for digital disruptions could help overcome some of these challenges. If enabled to thrive, technological disruption in healthcare will provide a more efficient and cost-effective service delivery that is urgently needed in Nigeria’s health system.

Mike Adeyemi Lawal is a medical doctor, Health coordinator and Global health advocate.

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TECHDIGEST – Nigeria’s first online mental health startup, BridgingSpace has demonstrated its commitment to transforming the health care system by providing necessary support to persons suffering from mental health related issues such as depression, anxiety and others.

The e-health startup will serve as an effective platform for individuals who have mental health related issues by helping to break stereotypes and stigma related circumstances towards promoting healthy communities.

Wikipedia defines E-health (Digital health) as the convergence of digital technologies with health, healthcare, living and society to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery through hardware and software solutions and services.

E-Health startup is a tech firm that aims to provide some sort of technological product or resource to the medical market, typically targeting medical practitioners, patients, health insurance providers or corporate organisations.

These e-health startups are scattered over different areas and making impact in their own little ways. They include maternal and child health, Electronic Health Records (HER), health insurance, telemedicine, pharmaceuticals, services, content and information.

Nigeria’s health tech startup industry has been steadily growing over the years. E-health is helping in improving the quality of life, reducing the cost of healthcare, and making healthcare efficient and easily accessible.

A few examples of health tech startup in Nigeria are Lifebank, Mobidoc, Meditell, Mamalette, Omomi, Ubenwa, Helpmum, DrugStoc, Mymedicines.com, Wella Health, and Doctoora

BridgingSpace is coming into Nigeria’s health tech space with a unique focus on addressing the mental health crisis ravaging the populace, especially, under the current climate of global economic and social uncertainties, no thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The prevalence of mental health issues in Nigeria shows that an increasing number of people are vulnerable to emotional distress and other mood disorders at some time in their life.

The Chief Executive Officer of BridgingSpace, Edet Ekpenyong while speaking to Techdigest identified the youth as the demographic with the highest cases of depression and anxiety due to factors such as economic hardship, cultural biases, and other social pressures, adding that one out of four Nigerians are victims.

He noted that many of these youths do not seek professional help because of the stigma, discrimination and complicated processes needed to access therapy.

In recognition of this fact, Ekpenyong advises that families, peer groups and the public should focus attention on the psychosocial health of their community by encouraging them to speak out about mental health challenges they are experiencing in schools, the work place or among their peers.

To achieve this objective, he assured that the startup has put in place effective channels for communication, partnerships and collaborations with support groups, for profit and nonprofit organizations to collectively address the scourge of mental health issues affecting people.

According to him, BridgingSpace is prepared to deploy all necessary strategies including tours of tertiary institutions to raise awareness on sound mental health as a critical but neglected component of health in its entirety towards the achievement of ‘health for all goals’.

Ekpenyong added that “BridgingSpace will serve as a premier source for mental healthcare solutions while using data to positively influence healthy outcomes for communities around the world”.

However, the main obstacles confronting e-Health startup are lack of access to funding, absence of government in terms of political will, regulatory frameworks and policies.

Another barrier is adoption. How many people are using these software? How many people have downloaded the apps? How many actually use these apps?

While these factors have continued to undermine the growth and prosperity of health tech companies, I believe that the current slow adoption of e-health technologies will improve as people learn to appreciate and embrace the benefits offered by emerging e-health technology like the BridgingSpace application.

All levels of government need to recognize and prioritise the importance of adequate mental healthcare by making effective treatment, adequate facilities and resources available to encourage health tech companies contribute to overall quality healthcare delivery.

In addition, government should support these e-health startups with massive educational campaigns to create needed awareness to help the understand mental illnesses and the benefits of e-health care platforms.

Yes, I am optimistic that the Nigerian health tech space has come to stay and will make more visible impact in no distant time. With increased mobile penetration and internet access, adoption of e-health technologies/platforms will pick up, and our dream will metamorphose into practical reality.

Abbas Badmus is a staff writer with TechDigest.ng abbasbadmus@gmail.com

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By Abbas Badmus

TECHDIGEST – A Nigeria e-Health startup, BridgingSpace has demonstrated its readiness to provide necessary support to persons suffering from mental health related issues such as depression, anxiety and others.

The CEO of BridgingSpace, Edet Ekpenyong, told TechDigest in an exclusive interview that his startup will serve as an effective platform for individuals who have mental health related issues in order to break stereotypes and stigma related circumstances while promoting healthy communities.

He identified the youth as the segment of the population with the highest cases of depression and anxiety due to factors such as economic hardship, cultural biases, and other social pressures, adding that one out of four Nigerians are victims.

“This trend has increased and will continue post COVID-19 pandemic. Many of them don’t seek professional help because of the stigma, discrimination and complicated processes needed to access therapy.

“BridgingSpace provides convenient on-demand teletherapy, support group and self-help services that cater to the needs of individuals.”

Edet, therefore, urged families, peer groups and the public to be more focused on the psychosocial health of their community by encouraging them to speak out about mental health challenges they may have encountered in schools, the work place or among their peers.

He assured that the startup has put in place effective channels for communication, partnerships and collaborations with support groups, for profit and nonprofit organizations to collectively address the scourge of mental health issues affecting people.

Edet, who is also a certified Global Mental Health expert, disclosed that BridgingSpace will deploy all necessary strategies including tours of tertiary institutions to raise awareness on sound mental health as a critical but neglected component of health in its entirety towards the achievement of ‘health for all goals’.

“Everyday people encounter many challenges, some of which take a toll on their mental health, hence affecting their work productivity and social interactions. By providing affordable on-demand mental health care, people can easily get professional help through therapy — either self-care or through counselling.’’

“So BridgingSpace will serve as a premier source for mental healthcare solutions while using data to positively influence healthy outcomes for communities around the world”, Edet added.

He expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for sponsoring the startups to the annual GITEX show in Dubai, saying that the startups needed more incubator and accelerator programmes to facilitate their growth.

“The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition was a wonderful opportunity for BridgingSpace to engage with government intermediaries, international stakeholders, impact investors as well as fellow startups across different countries in the world.

“Without doubt, through the initiative of the federal government under the leadership of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami alongside NCAIR C-Level Director, Dr. Yau Garba, BridgingSpace has had multinational exposure, access to investors and growth hacking opportunities to steer forward in the entrepreneurial waters”.

BridgingSpace was unveiled by NITDA at the 2021 GITEX Future Stars Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in October.

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