By Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Charles Ogili, Conakry in Guinea.
Sen. Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
A member of the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee, Sen. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, a former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and the distinguished Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has advocated the use of simple apps on mobile phones to provide broader access to health services.
Sen. Banigo spoke on the sidelines of the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committees on Health/Education, Science and Culture/Telecommunications and Information Technology/Industry and Private Sector in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
According to Sen. Banigo, with the advent of information technology, vital health information can be disseminated to local government areas and rural communities, including hard-to-reach regions.
She stated, “We can provide our local government areas and rural communities, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, with vital health education through a simple app on a mobile phone.”
She also noted that the proliferation of mobile phones and their penetration into remote villages offers an opportunity to develop a simple, stable, and effective app that can carry essential healthcare and health education information.
Sen. Banigo emphasized that vital health information conveyed through this channel could save many lives if there is sufficient awareness and the necessary infrastructure to ensure widespread access across the country.
Banigo welcomed and praised the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee’s delocalized meeting, highlighting its focus on health and education. She expressed her belief that there is no better time for such initiatives and hoped that the message would be adopted by all countries.
She added that the country’s development would accelerate if all stakeholders, including telephone regulators and the government, are engaged and committed to positively impacting citizens across the sub-region.
Sen. Banigo also expressed admiration for the lease or concessionary arrangements implemented by hospitals in Conakry, which the Joint Committee members visited, describing them as effective and something that Nigeria could emulate.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
