By Bunmi Yekini
Digital health solutions provider, eHealth Africa (eHA), has urged African governments and stakeholders to focus on cultural and community-specific factors to ensure the success of digital health innovations. Speaking at the Global Digital Health Forum 2024 in Nairobi, eHA highlighted the critical role of combining technology with local realities to address pressing healthcare needs.
“Understanding the unique healthcare challenges in countries like Nigeria allows us to deploy tech solutions that truly make an impact,” said Atef Fawaz, Executive Director of eHA. He shared how the organization’s Logistics Management Information System (LoMIS) enabled the delivery of over 5.8 million vaccines to 351 primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria, reducing vaccine stockouts and improving routine immunization efforts.
eHA, a Nigeria-based non-profit organization operating across 24 African countries, has spent over 15 years strengthening health systems through data-driven solutions. Its approach integrates global successes with local contexts, making Nigeria a hub for public health innovation.
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Panelists at the forum emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and understanding local dynamics. “Building solutions designed with local realities in mind ensures sustainable and impactful health outcomes,” said Abdulhamid Yahaya, eHA’s Deputy Director of Global Health Informatics.
Board Member Micheline Ntiru noted that eHA’s efforts have enabled local health workers to use mobile-based reminder systems, improving compliance with vaccination schedules. She added, “With local leadership support, these tools enhance outcomes and connect communities with lifesaving interventions.”
With mobile phones now in nearly 80% of African homes, technologies like SMS reminders for immunizations and emergency announcements about clinic schedules have proven transformative. According to the World Health Organization, such tools strengthen national health systems and encourage healthier lifestyles.
The panel, moderated by Ota Akhigbe, eHA’s Director of Partnerships and Programs, included experts from Maisha Meds, Tiko, and Jacaranda Health, who discussed how collaboration and regulatory compliance can drive impactful digital health solutions across diverse regions.
The forum drew participants from ministries of health in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Somalia, alongside representatives from UN agencies, the World Bank, and global technology vendors, underscoring the shared commitment to advancing healthcare across Africa.