Health
My 1Health Connects Patients With Global Healthcare Expertise
Between 2011 and 2019, life expectancy across sub-Saharan Africa rose from 57.56 to 61.24 years. While there was a slight dip at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that rise is pretty remarkable. Even more remarkable is the fact that life expectancy in the region was just 50 at the turn of the millennium. While there are numerous factors behind that rise, economic growth and improved disease prevention and treatment are among the most notable.
The former has ensured that a growing proportion of Africans have access to the basic infrastructure, like clean drinking water, that is so important to our overall health. The latter, meanwhile, means that diseases such as HIV/Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis are no longer as deadly as they once were (particularly to young people). Even with those advances, however, Africa still faces significant healthcare challenges. According to a 2021 report, close to half of Africans still don’t have access to the healthcare they need. And even when they do have access, attaining that healthcare can be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating. You only need to look at the queues at hospitals and clinics to see exactly how painful it can be.
One company, however, is trying to eliminate at least some of those frustrations, not just for Africans but for people around the globe. Founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 2018, My 1Health is a medical facilitator that’s dedicated to giving ordinary Africans access to specialised healthcare services globally. Beyond simply connecting people with healthcare expertise, My 1Health allows users to request emergency medical evacuations, have their cases reviewed by leading specialists, and receive tailored health packages to detect critical conditions or diseases early.
Additionally, it can assist with visa applications and facilitate airport transfers, hotel bookings, travel itineraries, and post-treatment follow-ups. Anyone who’s ever sought treatment in another city, never mind country, knows how difficult organising all of those things can be when you try and do them on your own.
According to Ephraim Mwangi, Head of Growth Marketing at My1Health, the products and services offered by the company have evolved but have always been wedded to its central vision.
“The goal was to create a platform that simplifies patients’ access to global healthcare services, irrespective of location,” he says. “Recognising the increasing demand for specialised services, our journey has been dedicated to expanding our services globally.”
“Providing multiple solutions is integral to enhancing user experience, ensuring accessibility through our smartphone app and web interface,” he adds. “Our commitment to refining and evolving our offerings reflects our dedication to global impact in the specialised healthcare industry.”
According to Mwangi, a key moment in My 1Health achieving this vision was the merger of International Medical Treatment Ltd and My Health Africa, resulting in a unified platform.
“This merger positioned us as global leaders in medical facilitation, constantly seeking new partnerships to fortify our presence worldwide,” he says. “By uniting the best of both worlds, the merger unlocked exponential opportunities. Our expanded network of 1 500+ doctors, 100+ hospitals, and a global reach has enabled over 40,000+ medical journeys.”
Ultimately, this means that patients have a greater level of choice than they would if they were restricted to their hometowns, cities, and countries.
“We empower patients with choice, offering local care when available and seamlessly connecting them with top global experts when needed,” says Mwangi. “This dual approach bridges the specialist gap while expanding options, ensuring everyone receives the best possible care, regardless of geographical constraints.”
According to Mwangi, the fact that My 1Health has been able to achieve everything it has is in no small part down to the way healthcare professionals have embraced the platform.
“My 1Health’s offerings have been embraced by doctors and healthcare workers,” he says. “We continue to forge strategic partnerships with hospitals and clinics, integrating seamlessly into existing workflows and empowering local healthcare teams.”
The My 1Health team has, of course, worked hard to ensure that it is a platform they can embrace.
“We have developed a collaborative approach that fosters trust and adoption, driving sustainable growth and ensuring healthcare professionals see My 1Health as a valuable tool, not just another platform,” he says.
Getting to this point has not, of course, come without its own set of challenges.
“My 1Health has navigated numerous challenges, including language barriers and market competition,” says Mwangi, adding that the company’s focus on technology and facilitation services has helped it address these challenges head-on.
Going forward, My 1Health plans to expand its global footprint to even more markets.
“My 1Health is committed to global expansion, with plans to extend to the Middle East and South Asia this year,” says Mwangi. “We’re excited about bringing our platform to new markets, and we aim to be the global leader in medical facilitation services through technology, patient-centricity, and strategic partnerships.”
Despite the very clear challenges faced by African healthcare, it has also been home to many pioneering medical innovations and procedures, such as the first heart transplant, middle ear transplant, and the world’s first successful intraocular lens implantation for cataract surgery. It’s also where critical technologies like the CT Scan were developed.
Could My 1Health build on that spirit of innovation to help ensure that anyone can access the healthcare they need, no matter where they are in the world? Given what it’s achieved so far, you’d be hard-pressed to bet against it, at least playing an important part in that revolution.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over 500 residents of Ajegunle in Lagos enjoyed free healthcare services, comprehensive health education, youth mentorship, and community engagement activities at a one-day event organised by Queens Palm Support Initiative (QPSI).
This is part of the organisation’s Reach 1000 Initiative, deliberately designed to address immediate healthcare needs and empower individuals with the knowledge, resources, and support required to live healthier, more productive, and dignified lives.
QPSI is a non-profit organisation established by Ms Sabrina Ozma dedicated to advancing community development, healthcare advocacy, youth empowerment, leadership education, and social impact interventions across Nigeria. Fou
At the Ajegunle programme held at Bola Ige Millennium School, Tolu Complex, participants received a comprehensive range of healthcare services facilitated by accredited medical professionals, including general medical consultations and health assessments, malaria screening, diagnosis and treatment, blood sugar testing and diabetes awareness, comprehensive eye examinations and vision assessments, as well as specialist neurosurgical consultations provided by medical experts from Dukes Neurosurgery and Specialist Hospital.
Also, Reals Pharmaceutical Limited provided and distributed antimalarial medications to beneficiaries, ensuring continuity of treatment and improved health outcomes beyond the day of the outreach.
Ms Ozma, while speaking at the event, said access to quality healthcare remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting underserved communities across Nigeria.
According to her, interventions such as the Reach 1000 Initiative are deliberately designed to close this gap, not only by addressing immediate healthcare needs but by empowering individuals with the knowledge, resources, and support required to live healthier, more productive, and dignified lives.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the initiative featured structured health education and awareness sessions focused on disease prevention and early symptom recognition, personal hygiene and sanitation best practices, nutrition and food safety, healthy lifestyle habits, and the importance of routine medical check-ups.
In addition, a media personality and youth advocate, Ms Blessing Lopez, led engaging conversations around personal growth, confidence, and purpose-driven living, while entertainer Larry J inspired participants through discussions on resilience, positive decision-making, and the importance of becoming active contributors to societal progress.
The programme also attracted notable participation from government institutions and civil society organisations, highlighting the importance of multi-sector collaboration in addressing community challenges.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, engaged participants on safeguarding, protection against domestic and sexual violence, and the importance of building safer communities.
Further, representatives of the Cleen Foundation facilitated discussions on crime prevention, community security, and the role of young people in promoting civic responsibility and the rule of law, while the Crime Prevention Partnership (CPP) led discussions on community-led safety strategies and citizen participation in fostering safer neighbourhoods.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has urged global investors and innovators to tap into the Nigerian healthcare ecosystem, which is projected to grow by 7.1 per cent, reaching a market value of $161.7 million by 2027.
This advice was given by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Mr Isiaq Salako, at the opening of the World Health Expo (WHX in Lagos 2026), formerly known as Medic West Africa, on Tuesday in Lagos.
The broader West African market is expected to reach more than $11 billion, providing investors with an opportunity to get a good return on investment.
“Nigeria is open for healthcare investment. We want platforms like WHX in Lagos to serve as a critical conduit for translating this investment ambition into tangible technology access for our hospitals and patients,” the Minister, who declared the event open on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, said.
He praised the organisers of the expo, which welcomed over 8,000 healthcare professionals and 500 exhibitors spanning 40 countries, for growing the programme into a vital catalyst for West African healthcare transformation.
Addressing the stark reality that between 85 per cent and 99 per cent of medical equipment and in vitro diagnostics in West Africa are currently imported, Mr Salako outlined aggressive federal interventions designed to dismantle supply chain vulnerabilities and skyrocket local manufacturing capabilities.
He also spotlighted key presidential directives, including the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order for the Pharmaceutical and Allied Sectors, both engineered to catalyse health security, drive economic growth, and generate employment through strategic private-sector collaborations and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“Our commitment to improving access to modern equipment and technologies in hospitals is backed by concrete action. The government has inaugurated the $1.2 billion Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) initiative, a comprehensive overhaul addressing financing, workforce development, and infrastructure.
“Furthermore, for the 2025 fiscal year, the Federal Government committed N402 billion specifically for health sector infrastructure investment,” he stated, also highlighting an expansive health infrastructure upgrade program in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
According to him, this phased initiative is actively delivering oncology and nuclear medicine centres across six tertiary hospitals, alongside establishing 22 modern medical diagnostic centres, seven cardiac catheterisation laboratories, and expanded radiology and clinical pathology capabilities distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Also speaking, the chief executive of EHA Clinics, Dr Ifunanya Ilodibe, stressed the urgent need to support and unify fragmented growth within the healthcare system, noting that WHX serves as the precise ecosystem platform required to bring together policymakers, clinicians, and investors to move actionable strategies forward.
Also, the President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and Country Director of PharmAccess, Njide Ndili, said, “HFN bridges the gaps in health financing, opening up critical connections to achieve true health sovereignty,” praising Africa CDC’s historical intervention, particularly during the Ebola crisis and urged participants to utilise the WHX exhibition floor to forge collaborations capable of scaling locally produced medical equipment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Mr Akin Abayomi, on his part, highlighted the enforcement of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act in Lagos State as a landmark regulatory milestone. The Act mandates health insurance for all residents, structuring the financial environment to guarantee medical protection across various socioeconomic levels.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Regional Representative of the Director General of the Africa CDC Western Regional Coordinating Centre, Prof. Aliko Ahmed, called on leaders in geopolitical positions to enact liberating trade policies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to shape the continental agenda, emphasising that the Africa CDC will fiercely prioritise building trust in locally manufactured healthcare products.
WHX in Lagos 2026 runs for three days, featuring accredited forums, cutting-edge product showcases, and high-level networking tracks designed to translate billions in public and private investment into immediate technology access for hospitals and patients.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, suffered a major setback on Wednesday after Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital informed the coroner’s court that it had obtained an order of the Lagos State High Court staying further proceedings in the probe.
The matter came before Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at Court 9, Igbosere Magisterial District, Yaba, Lagos, and was scheduled for the commencement of witness’ testimony.
Counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), told the court that the hospital had initiated judicial review proceedings challenging, among other issues, the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court to conduct the inquest in the absence of the deceased’s body.
He disclosed that the High Court had granted leave for the judicial review application and ordered that the leave operate as a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the suit.
The senior advocate also informed the court that although the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office denied seeing the originating processes from the High Court, proof of service was available.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) confirmed receipt of both the originating processes and the High Court order.
While acknowledging the obligation of all parties to comply with court orders, he informed the coroner that the family had already filed four witness statements on oath, including that of Dr Ivara Esege, as well as statements from independent medical experts from Nigeria and the United States, who are expected to testify at the inquest.
Mr Pinheiro urged the court not to adjourn the matter indefinitely, but to a definite date after the court vacation to enable parties to report on developments in the High Court proceedings.
He also highlighted the need for transparency and public confidence in the fact-finding process, saying, “He who is innocent does not fear an open inquest.”
Counsel representing Atlantis Paediatric Hospital supported the request for a definite adjournment rather than an indefinite postponement.
Following submissions by counsel, the Coroner adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026, for a report on the status of the High Court proceedings.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn