By Prince Osuagwu

IN the first week of November, all roads will be leading to Abuja for this year’s International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth (ISFTEH)’s conference. This will be the 17th edition in the series and the first time this event will hold in West Africa.

Being one of the only two organizations recognized by the World Health Organisation, WHO, as major promoters of telemedicine and eHealth globally, global players from the world would like to be present at the event.

Participants from the UK to the USA from Oceania to the Far East, according to the organisers, are expected to grace the event. This is also as leading CEOs and researchers in the industry including some academia from Germany, Japan, Russia and Australia among others from US, India and Sweden are slated to speak at the event.

Meanwhile, former minister of health, Prof Eyitayo Lambo is said to be the guest speaker who would also present a white paper on the development of the National Strategy for developing eHealth.

The event will play host to a number of other dignitaries and stakeholders as Ministry of health and the Ministry of ICT are said to be partnering with the ISFTEH to deliver a successful and result oriented event.

Speaking about the event, Nigeria’s representative in the ISfTeH , Dr Olajide Adebola, said that ”telemedicine & eHealth goes beyond fancy equipment and internet connections. It is a methodology of getting health services to reach the unreached. That is why this event is very crucial”

He added that the Nigerian national association which he Chairs, was created in 2005 and has since helped in the initiating the creation of the framework for eHealth development in Nigeria with the help of its members that cut across medical personnel, ICT professionals and other eHealth enthusiasts.