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ITU supports Zimbabwe to deliver health care services through
ICTs
Geneva, 1 December 2015 – The International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory
Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) signed a cooperation agreement on 25 November for
the extension of telemedicine services to rural and remote clinics and hospitals
in Zimbabwe.
Through this new project, the Ministry of ICTs Postal and Courier Services of
Zimbabwe will receive assistance from ITU in the development of e-health sector
policies and regulations. The overall objective of the project is to use ICTs to
improve delivery and provision of quality, cost effective, affordable and
accessible health services, particularly to remote and disadvantaged areas.
“This agreement reinforces our commitment to work with Member States to
harness the power of ICTs to provide practical solutions to attain sustainable
development,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
“In the rapidly expanding digital economy, ICTs are transforming people’s
lives by improving their access to education, health care and government
services,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development
Bureau.
“By integrating ICTs into its health delivery system, Zimbabwe will empower
physicians and health facilities to expand their reach for the benefit of
everyone, particularly the most disadvantaged,” he added.
Baxton Sirewu, Acting Director General of POTRAZ, thanked ITU for its
support, noting that “ICTs have become a vital component in Zimbabwe’s overall
development objectives. The telemedicine project is a step towards safeguarding
the welfare, prosperity and enduring happiness of all our citizens.”
Under the project, the telemedicine network based at Parirenyatwa General
Hospital in Harare will be extended to provincial, district and rural health
centres/clinics in order to improve access and delivery of medical services to
the population in remote and rural areas.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Parkes
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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Monica Albertini
Communication Officer, BDT
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