ICT Infrastructure in Africa and the uptake of e-Health

Information and communication infrastructure in Africa and the uptake of eHealth Eng. Brahima Sanou ITU Regional Representative for Africa ECOSOC Africa Regional Ministerial Meeting - Health – use of information and communication technology for health

Key Areas
Africa Broadband Connectivity and connectivity to the world
Access/Penetration of telecommunications and ICT
ICT and eHealth Uptake
Challenges and opportunities
Role of ITU

ITU – Who we are
UN Specialized Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Established on 17 May 1865
191 Member States and 700 Sector Members
Central role in CONNECTING THE WORLD
Organization in three sectors
Radiocommunication
Standardization
Development

UNDERSEA CABLES 2007 Source: TeleGeography research

ICT uptake in Sub Saharan Africa and in the world, 2007 Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database .

ICT developments in Sub Saharan Africa, 1997-2007 Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database . 1,5 23,0 3,6 0,1 0,3 0 5 10 15 20 25 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Per 100 inhabitants Fixed telephone lines Mobile cellular subscriptions Internet users Fixed broadband subscribers Mobile broadband subscriptions

Mobile population coverage Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database .

ICT and eHealth uptake
Health service governance
Surveys
Database sharing updating
Communication including interactive communication amongst health professionals
eHealth Forums
Experience sharing and training through telemedicine
Public information system

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Paradigm change for policy makers
From industrial based economy to knowledge based economy
From ICT merchant economic sector to ICT underlying economic growth sector
Streamlining ICT as key in national and regional health policy
Paradigm change for health Professionals
Awareness raising and training of Health Professionals

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Mobile and wireless communications : big asset for eHealth uptake in Africa
Africa has got the fastest growth of mobile phone in the world and the coverage with mobile signal goes from 70% up to almost 100% some countries (Health governance, public information)
Satellites cover all Africa including RASCOM a dedicated satellite for Africa. Other projects are planning to cover Africa with affordable broadband connectivity by satellite
Development of applications and financing
Develop eHealth communication applications to use the existing ICT network
Resources generated from ICT sector (Universal access/service funds) could help develop applications for rural and remote areas.

ITU and eHealth
WSIS,
WSIS assigned the co-facilitator to WHO and ITU for eHelath in Action line C7
WSIS facilitator role to ITU for Action line C5 “Building confidence in the use of ICT”
WTDC
World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) adopted a Regional Initiative of “ICT applications” for Africa and “ E-Strategies and ICT Applications”

ITU and eHealth
Connect Africa
Connect Africa adopted “ Goal 5: Adopt a national e-strategy, including a cyber-security framework, and deploy at least one flagship e-government service as well as e-education, e-commerce and e-health services using accessible technologies in each country in Africa by 2012, with the aim of making multiple e-government and other e-services widely available by 2015.”
WHO and ITU are working together on Africa Health Infoway project
ITU-D Study Group
Question 14-2/2: Telecommunication for eHealth
Guidelines for eHealth Master Plan

CONCLUSION
Paradigm change for policy makers to consider ICT as underlying economic growth sector and streamline ICT as key in national and regional health policies
Thank you mobile and other wireless technologies Health delivery in rural and remote areas is possible
WHO and ITU in accordance with their core mandate are closely working together with other stakeholders to make sure that ICT and Health bring eHealth

Eng. Brahima Sanou ITU Regional Representative for Africa E-mail: [email_address]

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ICT Infrastructure in Africa and the uptake of e-Health

by Francisco J Grajales III on Jun 13, 2009

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ICT Infrastructure in Africa and the uptake of e-Health — Presentation Transcript