Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and a member of the ECOWAS Parliament has advocated for Nigeria to adopt international best practices to enhance its medical sector.
Senator Banigo shared this perspective following her participation in the Delocalised Meeting of the ECOWAS Health Committee in Conakry, Guinea, where the role of telecommunications and information technology in promoting health services across the ECOWAS region was a key focus.
In a statement made available to media, Senator Banigo underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to leverage technology to improve healthcare delivery, emphasizing the importance of embracing global standards to strengthen the nation’s health system.
Reflecting on the recent discussions, Senator Banigo explained that the critical issue of technology in healthcare was also a central theme at the 5th Legislative Health Summit, which she hosted in her capacity as Chair of the 10th Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).
“It marked the first comprehensive discussion on this issue in the Nigerian Health sector, paving the way for unlocking the full potential of telemedicine as a valuable means of delivering health education and improving our healthcare outcomes in achieving Universal Health Coverage.” She noted.
Senator Banigo disclosed that as part of efforts to promote health services within the ECOWAS region, the committee visited two tertiary hospitals in Conakry, Guinea the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire and the National Hospital Donka. She highlighted the importance of these visits in assessing best practices that could be adapted to improve Nigeria's health system.
At the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, a 400-bed facility staffed by 300 health professionals and originally built in 1902, Senator Banigo was struck by the well-maintained condition of the hospital, despite its age.
“What struck me was that despite the hospital's age, it appeared well-maintained, neat, and clean,” she explained.
She noted that the hospital administration had appealed for infrastructural support and better equipment.
"We shared this observation with the Director General and his team, offering words of encouragement," she said, emphasizing the need for similar practices to be adopted in Nigeria.
Moving on to the National Hospital Donka, a modern facility completed just two years ago and run under a concessionary agreement with a Canadian NGO, Senator Banigo pointed out the state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment that the hospital boasted.
“The National Hospital, with its state-of-the-art buildings, has 631 beds and first-class equipment, with each ward accommodating only two beds,” she disclosed.
She highlighted how these best practices could serve as a guide for improving oversight and administration in Nigeria's healthcare system.
Meanwhile, Senator Banigo further stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to draw lessons from such facilities to develop a more robust healthcare framework that prioritizes efficiency, quality, and accessibility.
“It was interesting to observe best practices and consider how these can inform more robust oversight as we move forward,” she said, urging policymakers and stakeholders in Nigeria to embrace innovations that could transform the health sector.
She however reiterating her commitment to driving legislative reforms that will position Nigeria's health sector on par with international standards, noting that collaboration across the ECOWAS region would be vital to achieving this goal.
"We must learn from each other, adopt best practices, and ensure that our health systems can adequately serve our people," she stated.
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