Dr. Mariette Obianozie-Amadi, a physician and co-founder of 24Telemed, has spearheaded a transformative telemedicine initiative across Anambra State, Nigeria, significantly improving healthcare access for rural communities. Driven by a personal tragedy—the loss of her mother due to inadequate medical access—and fueled by the challenges exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Obianozie-Amadi embarked on a mission to bridge the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas. Her vision materialized in 24Telemed, a social enterprise dedicated to deploying and managing telemedicine programs in underserved communities. This initiative, unlike urban-centric models, specifically targets remote and often marginalized populations, bringing specialist medical care directly to their doorsteps.
The implementation of the telemedicine project in Anambra State began in September 2022 with the launch of a centralized tele-hub in partnership with the State Ministry of Health. By January 2025, the service had expanded to encompass 326 primary healthcare centres across all 21 Local Government Areas of the state. The project wasn’t merely about installing technology; it involved establishing comprehensive, context-specific, and community-friendly telemedicine services. This meticulous approach ensures that rural dwellers can consult specialist doctors remotely through local health workers, eliminating the need for arduous and often unaffordable journeys to urban centers. The initiative has effectively transformed access to care, shifting the narrative from despair and inaccessibility to hope and connection.
Dr. Obianozie-Amadi’s journey towards revolutionizing rural healthcare access wasn’t without its challenges. Building and deploying a comprehensive telemedicine network across a diverse and often geographically challenging terrain required significant effort, strategic planning, and community engagement. Establishing trust with local communities, training healthcare workers, and ensuring the seamless integration of technology within existing healthcare infrastructure were crucial components of the successful implementation. The collaborative approach with the Anambra State Ministry of Health proved invaluable, particularly during the deployment phase, demonstrating the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable healthcare solutions.
The core of 24Telemed’s success lies in its community-centric approach. Recognizing the unique needs of rural communities, the program emphasized accessibility, affordability, and cultural sensitivity. The telemedicine platform was designed to be user-friendly, enabling local health workers, often the first point of contact for patients, to facilitate consultations with specialist doctors located miles away. This model not only empowers local healthcare providers but also ensures continuity of care within the community, fostering trust and improving patient outcomes. By leveraging technology to overcome geographical barriers, 24Telemed has brought specialist expertise directly to the heart of rural communities, effectively democratizing access to quality healthcare.
The impact of 24Telemed extends beyond simply providing remote consultations. By connecting rural patients with specialists, it has facilitated early diagnosis and timely interventions for a range of medical conditions. This proactive approach has led to a significant reduction in the need for costly and often logistically challenging referrals to urban hospitals, saving both time and money for patients and their families. Moreover, the program has empowered local healthcare workers with enhanced skills and knowledge, strengthening the overall healthcare capacity within rural communities. This ripple effect contributes to a more robust and sustainable healthcare ecosystem in the long run.
Dr. Obianozie-Amadi’s vision for 24Telemed extends beyond Anambra State. She envisions a future where every child in rural Nigeria has the same access to quality healthcare as a child in a major city. Realizing this ambition will require continued investment and support from various stakeholders, including development partners, philanthropists, and governments. Dr. Obianozie-Amadi’s passionate advocacy for rural telemedicine underscores the urgent need for innovative and scalable solutions to address the healthcare disparities that persist in many parts of the world. Her work serves as a compelling example of how technology, combined with a deep understanding of community needs, can truly transform healthcare delivery and bring hope to underserved populations. The success of 24Telemed in Anambra State stands as a testament to the transformative power of telemedicine and provides a blueprint for replication in other regions facing similar challenges.
