EDOHERMA WINS eGOVERNMENT AWARD FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION AND RURAL ACCESS

 EDOHERMA WINS eGOVERNMENT AWARD FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION AND RURAL ACCESS

Seven-month-old Agency earns national recognition for technology-driven healthcare regulation

The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has received the eGovernment Award for Digital Inclusion and Rural Access, in recognition of its use of technology to strengthen healthcare regulation and extend regulatory access across Edo State.

The award was presented at the eGovernment Awards Gala Dinner at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, marking a significant achievement for an Agency that has been in operation for just eight months.

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, led the Edo State delegation to the awards ceremony, where the State recorded an impressive outing across categories. His presence underscored the State Government’s commitment to digital transformation, innovation and the deployment of technology to improve public service delivery.

Since commencing operations, EDOHERMA has deliberately embedded technology into its regulatory processes. The Agency has digitised the registration and revalidation of private and public health facilities, facility enumeration and geolocation, healthcare workforce documentation and other regulatory processes.

A key public-facing innovation is the “Verify Your Health Facility” search engine on the EDOHERMA website, which enables members of the public to check the regulatory status of health facilities before accessing care. This supports the Agency’s drive to empower residents to make safer healthcare choices while increasing transparency and accountability among healthcare providers.

EDOHERMA has also established Public Feedback Channels and Patient Experience Channels, giving patients, relatives and members of the public accessible avenues to report concerns, share their experiences and provide information that can trigger appropriate regulatory follow-up.

These interventions are particularly important for rural and underserved communities. Through digital registration, geolocation and facility data systems, EDOHERMA is working towards ensuring that health facilities across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State are captured within the regulatory framework, irrespective of their location.

The Agency is already looking towards the next generation of regulatory solutions through the EDOHERMA Hackathon, designed to harness innovative ideas and technology to address real challenges in healthcare regulation, monitoring, patient protection and public engagement. Entries close on September 30.

The rapid progress of the seven-month-old Agency reflects the visionary, innovative and passionate leadership of the Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide, who has championed the use of technology, data and citizen participation as tools for building a modern healthcare regulatory system.

Speaking on the award, Dr. Urhoghide said:

“Technology must make regulation easier to access and healthcare safer for our people. A resident should be able to verify a health facility, give us feedback about the care received and reach the regulator when something is wrong, regardless of where that person lives.

“For us, innovation is not about technology for its own sake. It must solve a problem. It must improve accountability, strengthen standards and ultimately protect lives.”

Dr. Urhoghide expressed appreciation to the Edo State Government under the leadership of the Executive Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for providing an enabling environment for innovation and improved public-sector service delivery.

She also commended the management and staff of EDOHERMA for embracing the challenge of building a new regulatory institution and delivering measurable interventions within a relatively short period.

“To receive national recognition at just seven months in operation is encouraging, but it also raises the bar for us. We are building an Agency that must remain innovative, accessible and responsive to the people it was created to protect,” she said.

The eGovernment Award for Digital Inclusion and Rural Access is an important recognition of EDOHERMA’s emerging model of technology-enabled, citizen-centred healthcare regulation.

It also underscores what is possible when visionary leadership, innovation, passion and a clear commitment to public service are brought together in building a new government institution.

Congratulations to the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide, the entire management and staff of EDOHERMA and the whole Edo health sector on this outstanding national recognition. 

Thank you to everyone who voted for EDOHERMA.

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#eGovernmentExcellenceAward

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