Unlocking Nigeria's Healthcare Potential: UNIMED's Call for Tech Innovation

By Adewale Momoh

In a thrilling call to action, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) in Ondo State has placed a powerful focus on the transformative potential of technology within Nigeria’s healthcare sphere. This sentiment was brought to the forefront during the second Faculty of Clinical Sciences Conference, a gathering that resonated with pioneering perspectives from some of the nation’s brightest minds in medicine.

Spearheading a Medical Revolution

Hosted at the Oladipo Akinkugbe Hall on the Laje Campus, the conference’s keynote speaker, Dr. Hammed Ninalowo, emphasized the profound capacity of technology and innovation to redefine medical care. As a renowned vascular/interventional radiologist, Ninalowo shared compelling success stories from IRDOCNIGERIA, where advanced radiology care has been a beacon of hope across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Local Expertise: The Key to Sustainable Medical Advance

According to Dr. Ninalowo, the magic lies in preventing capital flight by nurturing local talent to perform complex surgical operations. “By training a local team to handle intricate procedures, we keep ingenuity and revenue within our borders,” he asserted.

Highlighting their achievements, Dr. Ninalowo shared, “In the past two years, we’ve treated 29 lesions in 27 patients, with 23 fully recovering, defying local statistics that reflect a 47% surgical mortality rate.”

Collaborative Efforts for Transformative Outcomes

Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, UNIMED’s Vice-Chancellor, underscored the urgency of inclusive leadership rooted in diversity, equity, and innovation. Professing that every hurdle in healthcare is an invitation to innovate, she advocated for cohesive collaboration among clinicians, researchers, technologists, and policymakers.

Embracing the Tech Wave

Prof. Oluseyi Adejumo, Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, emphasized the pivotal phase healthcare finds itself in. “Technology’s role in medicine is undeniable, bridging gaps we never thought possible,” he remarked. As the world rides the wave of technological advancements and AI, Nigeria must harness these potentials to elevate its healthcare standards.

The Road Ahead

As Nigeria stands on the brink of a healthcare evolution, the insights shared at UNIMED’s conference pave the way toward a future where technology is not just a tool but a cornerstone of healing and innovation. According to The Guardian Nigeria News, fostering this synergy could redefine Nigeria’s medical narrative, making it a vanguard of technological progress in the global healthcare community.