AFRO-NETS> Universal Access to Health Information - Invite to Videoconference

[Linda Berkowitz <IHNinfo@cs.com>]

Universal Access to Health Information - Invite to Videoconference
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Invitation 'Universal Access to Health Information' (UAHI)
Wednesday, 18 July 2001

You are warmly invited to participate in an international videocon-
ference that is bringing together organizations worldwide who are 
working to improve access to relevant practical information for 
healthcare providers and health professionals in low-income coun-
tries.

'Universal Access to Health Information' (UAHI) will provide real-
time videolinks between providers, infomediaries, and end-users of 
information in Cape Town, London, Nairobi, Sao Paulo, and Washington 
DC.

The objectives of UAHI are:

* To present global and local ICT activities in relation to six pro-
  posed 'priority areas for action' 
  - see <http://www.inasp.org.uk/newslet/feb01.html#6> 
  'Working together to improve access to information for healthcare 
  workers in developing and transitional countries', a Framework for 
  Cooperation prepared by a working group comprising staff from WHO and 
  other organizations working to improve access to health information.

* To exchange ideas and perspectives relating to the interface be-
  tween international and local initiatives to use ICTs to improve ac-
  cess to information for health professionals in developing countries.

* To discuss ways forward to improve access to information.

UAHI will primarily consider the information needs of pre-service and 
in-service healthcare providers in the least developed countries. 
However, issues of access to information for other end users (re-
searchers, policy makers, the general public) will also be consid-
ered. The event will *not* specifically address related areas that 
are covered widely in other fora, e.g. epidemiological surveillance, 
patient data management, hospital information systems, telediagnosis,
and teleconsultation.

Throughout, there will be an emphasis on the perspective of those 
working in low-income countries: healthcare providers, librarians, 
publishers and other users and providers of health information.

Participation is open to all with an interest, subject to availabil-
ity of space.

WHEN? 
July 18, 2001 10am to 5pm (London time)

WHERE? 
Cape Town, London, Nairobi, Sao Paulo, Washington DC

HOW DO I REGISTER? 
E-mail your name, affiliation, and a brief note of your professional 
interests to Linda Berkowitz <IHNinfo@cs.com>

Please contact Linda Berkowitz for further details. A Full Programme 
will be available shortly on the Web at
http://www.healthcomms.org 
and 
http://www.inasp.org.uk

This event is being jointly organized by Exchange, INASP-Health, and 
the Interactive Health Network. It is funded by Exchange, with sup-
port from the Department for International Development (UK).

We look forward to seeing you on 18 July.

Andrew Chetley, Director, Exchange 
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Programme Manager, INASP-Health 
Linda Berkowitz, Project Manager, Interactive Health Network

'Exchange' is a networking and learning programme on health communi-
cations for development. <http://www.healthcomms.org>

INASP-Health (International Network for the Availability of Scien-
tific Publications) is a cooperative network for organizations and 
individuals working to improve access to reliable information for 
health professionals in developing and transitional countries. 
<http://www.inasp.org.uk>

Interactive Health Network is a non-profit collaboration that uses 
online technology as a means of addressing health inequities. IHN 
provides a real-time interactive service for health education in de-
veloping countries using videoconferencing and is developing a portal 
for health care workers in developing countries.

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