AOC TAC inaugurates NAF Telehealth clinic in Makurdi

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command of Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Makurdi, AVM Abraham Adole on Tuesday inaugurated the NAF Telehealth Clinic.

The inauguration was done at the NAF Base in Makurdi.

The AOC who was the Guest of Honour at the event said that the establishment of the facility was part of the efforts of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, to boost personnel welfare.

“The burden of providing quality and accessible round-the-clock health care services for the personnel of NAF has been on the front burner of this current administration.

“The goal of establishing this telehealth clinic is to bridge the gap between the available and required medical expertise as well as experiences at NAF health care establishments.

“This is because some ailments may require expertise and experience of a specialist doctor which may not be available in a medical facility,” Adole said.

He further stated that the facility would provide quick and easy access to a medical expertise of your choice at any time of the day.

“Other advantages of telehealth facility are increased patients engagement, reduced cost and ease of follow-up,” he said.

He appreciated the Chief of the air staff for his visionary leadership and extraordinary support to the command and urged the personnel to make the best use of it.

Meanwhile, the Commandant, 161 NAF Hospital, Makurdi, Group Capt. Samuel Oguntuase, said that the establishment of the facility became necessary because the world had embraced Information Communication Technology (ICT), stressing that the advent , development and use of ICT had changed the way the world conduct its activities.

“With appropriate gadgets which include television, internet services and appropriate application software among others a patient can be managed live by medical specialists linked across the globe.

“It must be noted that the facility cannot attend to emergencies,” Oguntuase said.

Also, Head of Operations, Mobihealth, Mr Sulaiman Alegbeleye, disclosed that telehealth was introduced due largely to the brain drain experienced in the medical sector.

“This development will provide doctors abroad the opportunity to contribute their quota in solving the health challenges of their countries,” Alegbeleye said.