
health
In depth
Access to Knowledge in Emergency situations: Looking at the situation in Jordan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Sonia Randhawa interviewed with Lulu Mitshabu and Daoud Kuttab. Lulu Mitshabu is the Africa Programs Coordinator at Caritas Australia. A Congolese woman, she travels through Africa regularly and is responsible for their Congolese programme. Daoud Kuttab is president of AMARC Middle East and North Africa, and responsible for setting up Jordan's first community radio. He has recently been working...
In depth
Do copyrights and patents limit access to HIV/AIDS knowledge and treatment in Africa?
The UNAIDS 2008 report confirms that Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region most seriously affected by AIDS in the world. As part of the response to this pandemic, access to information and knowledge on HIV/AIDS is vital, as disease prevention depends heavily on information. In a world where there is a price to pay for access to knowledge, to what extent do patents and copyrights limit...
In depth
Birthing Choices and Challenges—Understanding the new reproductive technologies
Kim Surkan is a gender studies professor. She recently gave birth to her son who was conceived through in-vitro fertilization. GenderIT.org writer, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza speaks with Kim about some controversies surrounding the use of new reproductive technologies and genetic selection. They also discuss the role of the information and communication technologies in new reproductive practices...
In depth
Integration of ICTs in the Health System: Basic Services and Risks to Privacy
How can a health care system respond to the gender-specificities in terms of providing accurate and timely information & services? And in what way can ICTs augment or challenge this effort? Natalia Fernandez presents a summary overview of various approaches by governments in different regions in adopting ICTs in health care, and highlights the potential risks to privacy that they can...
In depth
ICTs and health in Uganda: benefits, challenges and contradictions
Information & communications technologies (ICTs) have been continually
viewed as having the potential to address several challenges in Africa
including in the health sector, and has been implemented at least since the 1970s through the 'telemedicine' concept. By looking at the "Satellife" Personal Digital Assistant Project implemented by the government of Uganda, Patricia Litho...
viewed as having the potential to address several challenges in Africa
including in the health sector, and has been implemented at least since the 1970s through the 'telemedicine' concept. By looking at the "Satellife" Personal Digital Assistant Project implemented by the government of Uganda, Patricia Litho...
In depth
The fight against female circumcision in West Africa transposed on the internet
Sylvie Niombo, APC-Africa-Women Co-Coordinator, examines a role of information and communication technologies in the fight against female circumcision, a harmful practice carried out on over a hundred million girls and women in West African countries. She explores 'shadow areas' through a closer look at thus launched a research programme “Contribution of information and communications...
In depth
Demanding our reproductive rights on the web: A Uruguayan experience
When it was reported in mid-May 2007 that a Uruguayan woman was being put on trial for having an abortion, many people paid little notice. After all, abortion has been classified as a crime in the country’s criminal code since 1938. Others, however, were outraged by the news and turned to information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a tool for organising, protesting, and putting the...
In depth
HIV/AIDS and mobile technology: sms saving lives in Africa
Two new mobile technology programs in South Africa and Kenya are helping HIV/AIDS sufferers and their carers cope with the challenges.
In depth
OAFLA to use ICTs for social justice
The Organisation of African First Ladies against AIDS (OAFLA) seeks to place women’s health issues on national and regional development agendas. They have embraced ICTs as a tool to advocate for social justice especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In depth
Tele-Health set to boost maternal care
Delivering care to pregnant women and newborns in Lusaka is on the verge of becoming easier and more efficient, thanks to the advent of Tele-health — which is simply the use of information technology to deliver health services and information from one location to another.