Nigerian Gov’t, Intel Team Up to Establish First Local Telemedicinecenter

Nigerian gov’t, Intel team up to establish first local telemedicinecenter

ABUJA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) — Nigeria’s first Telemedicine Center,linking a rural clinic in Bida of the central Niger State and the National Hospital Abuja, was inaugurated in Abuja on Wednesday, according to state media reporting.

The center was established through collaboration between the Nigerian government and Intel Corporation of the United States.

Intel President, Craig Barret, said the center would bring critical pediatric care to a rural hospital serving a region of 4.5 million Nigerians.

“We hope the initiative will deliver good results in economic development and people’s standard of living,” he said.

Barret said the project was based on the organization’s corporate social responsibility of giving back the benefits of people’s patronage to the society.

According to Barret, the center is an interactive healthcare platform, utilizing telecommunications technology, to fast track consultations, diagnosis and prescription on real time basis.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Gabriel Aduku, said thecenter would enhance healthcare delivery by bringing advanced health services closer to the people, while the government was working to expand the initiative to other rural areas across the country.

It is learnt that the center utilizes WIMAX, a long range wireless technology, which features video conferencing and a high speed broadband connection.

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