Via Talamua On-line News: Mass vaccination campaign receives vital IT boost. Excerpt:
APIA, SAMOA – 23 DECEMBER 2019: The bid to achieve country-wide coverage for the measles mass vaccination campaign has received a much-needed boost, in the form of Information Technology equipment that will be used in district hospitals.
Fifteen laptops and 15 webcams were today handed over to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as part of the Government’s Digital Transformation programme, to be placed in each district hospital. Training on how staff can best use this equipment will also be provided.
“With our resilient ICT infrastructure and high speed connectivity over the Samoa National Broadband Highway Network (SNBH), these equipment will enable live medical consultations between the district hospitals and medical centers to the main hospitals at Moto’otua and Tuasivi; consultation on emergency measles cases; live urgent medical video conferencing from all sites; concurrent online meetings; and also at this time of emergency, the Prime Minister, Ministers and leaders could broadcast a live message or word of encouragement to all the workers and employees at all Health Clinics,” said Afamasaga Lepuia’i Rico Tupa’i, Minister of Communications and Information Technology.
The equipment, including software and costs for an IT consultant, were provided by the United Nations Development Programme, under the United Nations’ Central Emergency Relief Fund, CERF. The international funding request as part of the CERF Appeal was headed by the UN Resident Coordinator as well as providing continuous coordination of the relief efforts.
“The United Nations team in consultation with the Government of Samoa identified a series of gaps that the health system must address to prevent outbreaks in the future and make sure people have access to medical information when they need it,” said Simona Marinescu, UN Resident Coordinator.
