8th Annual ODESS Conference: Promoting Digital Solutions for Gender Equity in Health
- Posted on 10/10/2024 19:10
- Film
- By raymonddzakpata@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: On October 10, 2024, Lomé hosted the 8th edition of the Annual Conference of the Observatory of E-Health in Southern Countries (ODESS). The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including field professionals, researchers, and...
On October 10, 2024, Lomé
hosted the 8th edition of the Annual Conference of the Observatory of E-Health
in Southern Countries (ODESS). The event brought together a wide range of
stakeholders, including field professionals, researchers, and institutional representatives,
around the theme: “Gender Equity in Health: The
Role of Digital Technologies.” The conference highlighted
the potential of digital technologies to address the challenges of gender
equity in health.
The participants engaged in deep reflections on how digital solutions can serve as a catalyst for improving health systems, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. A key moment of the event was a panel of experts discussing “Digital Health in Togo: Challenges, Issues, and Prospects.” This panel provided a platform for exchange and reflection on the future of digital health in the country, especially focusing on ways to overcome barriers to healthcare access while addressing local specificities.
In his address, Giscar Koffi Samboé,
Country Coordinator of the Pierre Fabre Foundation in Togo, emphasized the
importance of digital technologies in enhancing health systems, particularly in
Southern countries. He highlighted that new
technologies offer adaptable, sustainable, and accessible tools
to strengthen health systems in areas with low medical coverage. “By helping
reduce healthcare costs, providing essential information to fight epidemics,
improving vaccination coverage, and combating counterfeit drugs, Information
and Communication Technologies (ICT) represent a tremendous opportunity for
health in Southern countries,” he stated.
Moreover, the use of ICTs
also improves access to quality medicines and supports initiatives aimed at
bridging gender inequalities in healthcare. It is within this framework that
the Pierre Fabre Foundation established the Observatory of E-Health in Southern Countries (ODESS),
which today stands as a key player in the development of e-health solutions.
An Interactive Dialogue for
Coordinated Action
One of the conference's
highlights was the live
duplex between the actors of Togo’s healthcare ecosystem and
participants at the ODESS Conference. This real-time interaction fostered
dialogue, enabling active and interactive participation from local experts.
These exchanges not only enriched the discussions but also laid the groundwork
for future collaborations aimed at adapting technological innovations to the
realities on the ground.
ODESS: A Driver of
Innovation for Health in Southern Countries
Since its inception, the Observatory of E-Health in Southern
Countries (ODESS) has committed to identifying, documenting,
and promoting e-health initiatives that improve access to healthcare and
medicines in resource-limited countries. ODESS not only identifies solutions
but also acts as a catalyst
for change, creating bridges between innovators and local
actors.
The digital health revolution is underway,
and this conference demonstrated that, with strong institutional support and active
collaboration among stakeholders, digital technology can play a crucial role in
ensuring equitable access to healthcare for everyone, everywhere.
The conference was
organized in partnership with the Pierre Fabre Foundation, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, the Ministry of Digital Economy
and Digital Transformation, the World
Health Organization (WHO), and the International Integrated Health NGO.
Raymond DZAKPATA
