[health-vn] UN FORUM DISCUSSES USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT POVERTY, IMPROVE HEALT

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: UN FORUM DISCUSSES USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT POVERTY, IMPROVE HEALTH
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 13:01:51 -0400
From: UNNews <UNNews at un.org>
Reply-To: unnews at un.org
To: <news2 at secint00.un.org>

UN FORUM DISCUSSES USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT POVERTY, IMPROVE HEALTH
New York, May 26 2009  1:01PM
Experts on information and communications technology (ICT) from the United 
Nations, private industry, non-governmental organizations and government 
agencies are meeting today in Geneva to look at ways to use the latest digital 
innovations to fight poverty and improve public health.

“The objective is to introduce cutting-edge, innovative knowledge, experiences, 
expertise and best practices” to the work of the UN, and the UN Commission on 
Science & Technology for Development in particular, according to the UN Global 
Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), which organized the one-day meeting.

“New technologies can boost education through distance learning, content 
creation and delivery, and teacher training,” GAID noted in a news release. 
“They can help create new job opportunities for people living in poverty.  These 
technologies can also empower women and the disadvantaged to increase their 
access to information and participate in the economy.”

The Alliance also noted that advances in health information systems based on 
ICTs are improving patients care and healthcare providers’ productivity 
worldwide. However, developing countries lag behind in employing ICTs to these ends.

“While diseases in developing countries account for over 90 per cent of the 
global disease burden, it is estimated that only 10 per cent of the more than 
$100 billion spent annually on health research is allocated for health problems 
prevalent in these countries,” it stated.

Today’s meeting will discuss how this divide can be bridged, using digital 
approaches and opportunities. It will also address new opportunities created by 
the technological innovations and rapid advances in mobile access for fighting 
poverty and promoting development.

Other UN agencies participating in the meeting include the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO).