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The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Zimbabwe (POTRAZ ) has partnered the International Telecommunications Union ( ITU) on a project to expand the Pan African e-network telemedicine from the hub, Parirenyatwa General Hospital, in Harare, to Provincial, District and Rural Health Centres/Clinics in order to improve access and delivery of medical services to remote and rural areas.
The project is part of efforts to make ICTs accessible to all citizens particularly the most disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe.
It is set to improve the processes of consultation, diagnosis, treatment, distant learning in medical updates, prevention of epidemics, and delivery of medical services remotely including delivery of e-health services where distance is a critical factor.
It is also expected to demonstrate that ICTS can play a central role in accelerating the universalisation of healthcare service in Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the acting director General with Potraz, Mr
Baxton Sirewu said “On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe
and on behalf of my organisation POTRAZ, I am greatly honoured to put pen on paper to append my signature signifying the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between
our two esteemed organisations as we take a giant step in our quest to make ICTs relevant to all citizens of this world and in this particular case to the
most disadvantaged communities of my beloved country Zimbabwe.
“Your support in this project and other areas will help us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as stated in relation to health (e.g. Goal 3 (Ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and those of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS),’’ added Mr Sirewu.
Some of the goals set at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) are that by 2030, countries should have reduced the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births.
By 2030, countries should end preventable deaths of new borns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1 000 live births.
Countries are also supposed to end the epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
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