American researcher urges African leaders to leverage tech for better healthcare

An American researcher, Dr. Matthew Heckman has urged African leaders to leverage technology and research for qualitative healthcare delivery.
Heckman said this while speaking at a Public Lecture organised by the Chrisland University, Abeokuta on Thursday.
In his lecture titled: “Epistemic Balance: A Perspective from Circadian Biology and Modern Medicine”, Heckman noted that African leaders had invested much into their health sectors but needed to do more.
He said Africans should prioritise giving access to technology, therapeutics and more medical researches in order to improve their health outcomes.
According to Heckman, treatment of Cancer is not fully optimal, adding that more research not be done to be able to develop normal therapeutics.
“‘Most African leaders are doing what they can but they still have to come along and assist; they have to give access to technology, give access to therapeutics. Also give access to more people to work and research together
“These are things that needs more research, more understanding to be able to develop normal therapeutics because frankly the way we treat cancer right now is not optimal.
“We still need to take other things into account and we’re hoping that time may be one of them that makes the difference for somebody somewhere .
“We have so much to do in terms of research, it took 300 years to get to where we are right now, I hope it doesn’t take 300 years to be able to positively affect human experience .
“I don’t know what the future holds; we’re just trying to make a difference,” he said.
Heckman described the Circadian clock as a rhythmic clock that controls the internal biological processes cycling every 24 hours.
He however noted that healthy living helps entrain one’s circadian clock, but while it works to promote health, people should also take healthy living seriously
“Healthy living actually entrains your circadian clock; getting enough sleep, going to bed in time, getting up early, eating healthy meals and all of the things doctors tell you to do; they entrain your skin clock to make you feel better.
“While we can use the circadian clock to make people healthier, you can also do that yourself; your health is in your own hands as well; it’s not just what doctors and medical researchers can do for you,” he said.
Dr Heckman is a renowned physician and researcher, whose work has significantly contributed to the field of Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare.
He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester, which he completed in 2009.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oyedunni Sola-Arulogun noted that the lecture is a timely and profound discourse across science, philosophy and medicine.
According to her, epistemic balance “reminds us that knowledge is not a monologue, it is a symphony”.
“And in this symphony, circadian biology our body’s ancient rhythm and modern medicine our most sophisticated interventions-must learn to play in harmony.
“As a university, we do not merely teach facts-we interrogate frameworks. We do not simply train professionals we cultivate thinkers who ask, how can diverse systems of knowledge inform better health and better lives,” she said. (NAN)