A prosperous and healthy region is one where each EAC Partner States can participate fully in trade and industry within an environment which sustains and nourishes its people, free of health threats and capable of providing universal care to all, the latest statement reads by the EAC Secretariat reads.
And adds that porous borders and the fluid movement of people underscore the need for a regional approach to tracking and responding to regional health priority needs while laying the groundwork for a robust and sustainable regional economy. Technology can help to strengthen regional health systems by bolstering the access, use, and improve performance of health services, it says
Adding that the 3rd East Africa Business and Entrepreneurship Conference & Exhibition will have multiple sessions including a jointly organised health session by East Africa Business Council (EABC) and East African Health Platform (EAHP).
According to the statement, Prof. Gibson Kibiki, Executive Secretary, East Africa Health Research Commission (EAHRC) is one of the key high level policy decision makers expected to speak during the sector session on health at the 3rd East African Business & Entrepreneurship Conference & Exhibition. The conference is scheduled to take place on October 30-31, 2018 in Kampala, Uganda.
Prof. Kibiki will shed light on the Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) Initiative.“Digital Regional East African Community Health is a ground-breaking initiative within the East African Community (EAC) that will implement ICT across all dimensions of the health sector in East Africa” said Prof. Gibson Kibiki, EAHRC Executive Secretary.
Other key industry champions expected lead discussions and identify missing links to promote an enabling environment for digital health in the EAC include Dr Amit Thakker, Chairman, East African Health Platform, Anne Therese Ndong-Jatta Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and Dr Roger Ciza Executive Director, Health Healing Network Burundi.
This year’s East African Business and Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition will focus on the Digital Economy and evaluate how the EAC policies and regulatory frameworks are currently set to spur growth and enhance the Integration process.
“An important dimension and benefit of creating an enabling environment for digital health in the EAC is in stimulating private-sector investment.” said Prof. Gibson Kibiki, EAHRC Executive Secretary.
Private sector can play an important role in addressing complex, systemic challenges complementing government efforts.
“Tackling issues such as policies, infrastructure and making a clear business case for partnerships and investment can help bring the influence and strength of the private sector to invest in digital health,” said Lilian Awinja, EABC CEO.
The conference sector session and parallel exhibition will showcase investment opportunities in the region as well as innovative market developments in the areas of Internet of Things, energy, agri-business, health, mobility, fin-tech and e-commerce.
The East African Business & Entrepreneurship Conference & Exhibition is an annual event rotating in all Partner States of the East African Community (EAC), co-organized in collaboration with the respective EAC Investment Promotion Authorities. The first East African Business & Entrepreneurship Conference & Exhibition was successfully held in October 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya while the second took place in November 2017 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The conference aims to enhance policy predictability, increase business confidence, nature entrepreneurship, innovation and attract more cross border and foreign direct investments into the EAC region. It convenes together high-level government and private sector decision makers from the EAC Partner States, entrepreneurs and investors from the region and abroad to discuss policies and legislations as well as chart out appropriate recommendations in a bid to improve the EAC business environment.