GSMA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to bring the
transformational power of mobile connectivity to support Africa’s most significant
healthcare challenges.
According to the statement issued, the MOU is intended to provide a
framework for partnership between the two organizations on a range of
priorities spanning from digital strategy, policy, and governance frameworks
across the continent to drive the adoption of mobile technologies with the potential to
strengthen Africa’s health security and outcomes for millions.
It noted that the GSMA will work closely with Africa CDC on
HealthConnekt Africa, a bold new initiative to connect all health facilities
and workforce in Africa to the internet by 2030. The initiative will start with
a small group of pioneer African Union Member States and communities, which
will see their health facilities connected to the internet and health workers
equipped with smart devices, allowing them to improve the quality of care
provided to their clients through access to vital online resources.
The partners will also work together on promoting homegrown
healthtech innovations and organizing convenings that bring together the public
health and tech communities in to chart ways of accelerating the digital
transformation of the health sector in Africa.
Africa CDC recently announced a new Public Health Order, outlining
priorities for strengthening African institutions for public health,
strengthening the public health workforce, and promoting action-oriented and
respectful partnerships, among others. The partnership between GSMA and Africa
CDC is expected to contribute to realising this vision.
In a remark the, Africa CDC Director, Dr. Ahmed
Ogwell Ouma said “Connectivity and digital innovation are at the core of our digital
transformation strategy. Access to the internet is a key enabler of our vision
to extend universal quality care to all by 2030, we look forward to working
with members of the GSMA to bridge the digital divide that still limits the
reach and impact of our health workforce.
In the MOU, both parties have agreed to collaborate in the design,
development, and promotion of technology policies, initiatives and investments
that will strengthen health systems and, ultimately, improve the lives and
livelihoods of African citizens. The aim is to accelerate the adoption of
digital technologies in support of the public health objectives of the African
Union Member States, including the enablement of continuity of care across
borders.
Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA
on her part noted that “While mobile growth across the region has been phenomenal over
the past two decades, more needs to be done to harness the power of the
technology across Africa’s healthcare sector.”
“Bringing together expertise and resources will
help establish a powerful new infrastructure providing African healthcare
workers access to the information they need in a timely fashion and the
intelligence necessary to help prevent the spread of disease across
international borders,” she added.
