As Nigeria continues to grapple with preventable illnesses, late presentation and barriers to basic healthcare, Universal Health Systems Limited has introduced its new digital health platform, Health Access App, in a bid to promote early detection and timely access to medical care.

Speaking during a healthcare intervention outreach directly to traders in Dutse Alhaji market Abuja, which combined the launch of the telemedicine application with a free community preventive health programme, offered market users basic health screening, medical consultations and health education.

Founder of Universal Health Systems Limited, Queen Babafemi Aina, said the decision to launch the app in the market was deliberate, noting that many people, including older persons and vulnerable residents, continued to work despite health challenges because of the need to earn a living.

“We actually brought the app to the market because we found out that most of our parents are ill, but they still come to the market to search for livelihood,” Aina said.

Aina explained that the Health Access App connects users with licensed doctors through teleconsultation, while also linking patients to pharmacies, laboratories and healthcare facilities.

According to her, the platform also provides an emergency pathway through its partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), stressing that timely intervention could determine whether a patient survives a medical emergency.

“What actually saves lives is the timing between life and death,” she said, adding that the platform would help patients access appropriate care and referral when necessary.

Aina urged Nigerians to embrace telemedicine, saying technology had become an important tool for bridging7 geographical and affordability gaps in healthcare.

Representing the Sector Commander, FRSC, FCT Command, Assistant Corps Commander Elionji Akem, said the partnership was consistent with the corps’ mandate of promoting safe road use, noting that road safety could not be achieved without healthy road users.

“Our slogan is ‘safer road, fuller life,’ meaning that you have to be healthy to achieve that,” he said.

Akem, who is Unit Commander, RS 7.19 Dutse Alhaji Unit Command, said the outreach was timely, particularly because health awareness remained low among some members of the community.

He advised motorists against driving under poor health conditions, using phones while driving and overloading vehicles, while urging road users to exercise caution during rainfall and periods of poor visibility.

Meanwhile, medical personnel at the outreach disclosed that elevated blood pressure was one of the major findings among beneficiaries screened.

A programme manager, Abusalam Musa Ajit, said many Nigerians still bypass primary healthcare despite its importance.

“Primary healthcare is the most critical aspect, and Health Access is here to provide that at your own comfort zone,” he said.

Also speaking, Senior Programme Analyst at Finom Consultancy, Michael Agudubi, said the app could strengthen the integration of digital systems into healthcare by allowing users to access multiple services from one platform.

He said the choice of Dutse market was strategic because of its large population, including vulnerable people and persons with disabilities, who might otherwise face difficulties accessing healthcare.

The organisers said the outreach would be repeated whenever the need arose, with the ultimate goal of shifting healthcare from late intervention to prevention and earlier access.