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

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

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

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

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.

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”

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

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

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]