The delegation from Africa met with members of the Business School on Friday, May 23, to discuss a project organised by Loughborough that has improved healthcare provision in Ghana. And to explore issues of youth unemployment and digitalisation.
Business School staff and visiting dignitaries listened to presentations from Professor Martin Tuuli; Mr Opare Addo and Dr Albert Attom – among others.
The talks centred around research and impact, such as Dr Attom’s successful healthcare scheme which was set up in Ghana five years ago.
The project explored how health workers across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania experience digitalisation – any instance in which patient records, hospital practises, communication procedures and other systems had been digitised.
After surveying more than 2,500 people, Dr Attom created a free digital training plan for hospital workers in Ghana which later informed the government’s healthcare policy – something which Mr Opare-Addo was keen to praise in his presentation.
The project’s findings also helped train unemployed youth, shaping national digital policy and initiatives projected to reach over one million people.
Dr Albert Attom said: “Digitalisation has enormous potential to improve healthcare systems, but too often, the voices of those on the ground, the healthcare workers and patients, are overlooked.
“In Ghana, we used these insights to deliver free training to 15 healthcare organisations, reaching over 650 healthcare workers.
“This led to the creation of the first healthcare digitalisation policy at a public hospital – an initiative grounded in real-world evidence.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see academic research make such a direct impact.”
Speaking at the welcome event in Loughborough, Mr Opare-Addo said: “Healthcare should be at the centre of our priorities.
“We believe Dr. Attom’s work in healthcare will have a significant effect if we collaborate effectively. A healthy body and mind are essential for productivity and development.
“You can't pursue reforms or change unless you’re physically and mentally sound.”
