NDDTF PRESS RELEASE Nigeria Diaspora move to transform the Future of Health in Nigeria Atlanta, Georgia, USA, March 16, 2015 /NDDTF/ ... The inaugural International Conference on Tropical Health; theme: "Connect and Collaborate to Save Lives", will be held in Atlanta, GA, USA on the 21st March, 2015 at Holiday Inn, 909 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Georgia, 30076. An unprecedented collaboration of several independent Nigerian-American professional and community organizations in the United States of America (USA) have embarked on a transformative project that has the potential to broadly define and advance the role of the Nigeria Diaspora in determining the future of health in Nigeria. According to a statement from the Nigeria Diaspora Diagnostic and Trauma Foundation (NDDTF) based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, NDDTF was established in 2014 "out of sheer concern for the millions of medically under-served Nigerians who suffer needlessly and even die due to curable and preventable illnesses". This statement further states that, "NDDTF seeks to bring hope and possibly save lives through the provision of accessible, affordable, pre-hospital diagnostic and urgent care services". The enabling common platform for the collaboration of the Nigeria Diaspora organizations was facilitated by Atlanta chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organizations in the Americas (NIDOA) in collaboration with the Consulate General of Nigeria Atlanta, and with the support of the Consulate General of Nigeria missions in Atlanta, New York and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Washington DC. The founding entities include the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in the Americas (NIDOA), Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA), Nigerian Nurses Association in Georgia (NNAG), Alliance of Nigerian Organizations in Georgia (ANOG), Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO World), National Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA), Kaleidoscope Business Project LLC, several small business owners, entrepreneurial groups and other stakeholders. The President of NDDTF, Prof. Martin Okafor, stated that all Nigeria Diaspora stakeholders share deep commitment and goodwill to the pursuit of good health and well-being of all Nigerians. According to him, the strategic objectives of NDDTF will "focus on: (1) establishing comprehensive diagnostic and urgent care centers to save lives; (2) facilitating educational seminars that build capacity and encourage professional growth in the Nigerian health sector; and (3) organizing international health conferences that facilitate connections and collaborations among top-tier Nigerian health leaders and their global peers". The presentations at this conference focus on "healthcare delivery and sustainability, implementing health technology, financing and operations of diagnostic centers and equipment." The NDDTF President explained that this conference should "establish sustainable platforms for future health collaborations among core interest experts and medical innovators, and also create opportunities for such investments that potentially strengthen the Nigerian health sector". Among expected participants are leading health experts, senior Nigerian government officials, policy makers, representatives of leading private and public sector companies, medical technology and equipment providers, funding agencies, investors and consultants. |
