Pan-African Conference 21 - 24 July 2002 Inter-Continental Hotel ...

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 12
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dismissed as ‘inappropriate’ in developing countries some decades ago. Now
we see that wireless technology decreases the infrastructural needs in
resource-poor settings.
The IT revolution is similarly a technologically unifying concept, which may
actually provide an opportunity for training institutions in low-income
countries to catch up on their fellow universities in richer countries. Which are
the key factors to promote such a development?
The first key factor is hardware. It is necessary for the African universities to
mobilise resources to connect to the global internet at to provide affordable
connections for both the departments, staff and students.
The second key factor is the software. The more internet-based the activities are,
the lower the cost for software.
The most crucial factor is the people-ware. The faculty members in the
universities must acquire the knowledge on how to use the new technology
both for teaching and research, a second ‘literacy campaign’ must be carried
out and the senior university leaders must be converted to the idea that IT can
really make a difference for their university. Providing simple IT courses for
university leaders and heads of departments is therefore a strategic move. The
students are learning the same things by the extensive use of email and
internet facilities. The next step is to make available the teaching information
on internet and in this way improve efficiency at the training institutions. The
last step is to establish production sites in Africa for appropriate interactive
training material so that the training material reflects the challenges of the
professional life in the Africa.
IT and nutrition in emergencies / La TI et la nutrition en situation précaire
Saskia van der Kam
Médecins Sans Frontières, Holland
Dare to share
During the last days we learned what smart software can offer us as it
comes to improving assessments, analysis of data, and access to dedicated
information, and networking.
However the real challenge is how we share he results/outcomes of the
information generated by the user of these new technologies.
For that reason I would like to refer to my current experience of internet
based knowledge-sharing platforms. The NutritionNET is an interactive
web-based platform for individuals and groups involved in the food and
nutrition sector in the emergency and development aid sector. The
overarching goal is to improve the quality of food and nutrition
interventions worldwide by promotion of improved interagency cooperation
between professionals. Participants are field workers from UN
agencies and NGO’s (local and international); researchers lectures and
students from academic institutes, specialist working groups (e.g. SCN
working groups), and individual nutritionist world wide (e.g. consultants).
Participants in NutritionNET have access to information and they can share
and manage their own information and discussions by creating their own
knowledge clusters and/or participating in existing knowledge clusters.
Such a system is different form existing web-sites who envisage the
downloading of information in ready to consume parts, where as
NutritionNET.net is a working area, where participants are supposed to
contribute to the platform, process this information, and manage the access
to their knowledge and discussions.
The NutritionNET developed out of an existing nutrition network of experts
working in the area of emergency aid. NutritionNET is answering the need
to communicate with peers on problems met in the field. NutritionNET
offers as well a platform for discussions between professionals on
interventions strategies in certain areas, research findings, articles,
guidelines, protocols and products. A high participation of professionals
(academic and field workers) from the affected countries itself is essential to
arrive at sensible interventions and to improve capacity building in the
regions itself.
The NutritionNET began in March 2002 when the interactive system was
presented at the SCN (UN Standing Committee on Nutrition) year-meeting
in Berlin.
The problems we face around food and nutrition are multi-factorial, the
solutions multidiciplinary. In order to progress we should share our
discussions and problems to other professional groups.
NutritionNET is the perfect tool for sharing information, creating and
capturing nutritional expertise, but only the commitment and active
participation of nutritional professionals can fully explore the benefits of the
possibilities of new technologies. IT makes knowledge sharing possible, it is
up to the nutrition community to make it really happen.
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
ABSTRACTS
The international nutrition community and information technology:
Opportunity and responsibilities / La communauté internationale de la
nutrition en face de la TI: opportunités et responsabilités
Mark L. Wahlqvist, AO, MD, FRACP
President, International Union of Nutritional Sciences
One of the best opportunities now available for human development is
provided by the conjunction of several rapidly developing technologies –
information technology, biotechnology, food technology, nuclear technology,
and nano-technology. In a village where literacy rates remain low, where
rainfall and agricultural production are limited, and where hunger,
malnutrition and infection are rife, it may seem these technologies are
irrelevant. But they can be made appropriate, provide empowerment, and
speed up economic development, with superior systems of governance.
ITANA (Information Technology and Nutrition in Africa) is an exciting
initiative of young multi-skilled and talented individuals, enthused by science
and technology, disseminating and enjoying the fruits of information, and
seizing the moment to shake off the shackles of poverty and disadvantage.
The IUNS (International Union of Nutritional Sciences) strongly supports this
regional development, and kindred developments in Asia and Latin America.
It has affiliated ITANA with the IUNS family of organizations.
With the privilege of knowledge and skill in the combined fields of food,
health and nutrition, together with information science and technology, goes
great responsibility to ensure benefit is obtained by individuals and
communities whose health and economic advancement has been limited.
Those who can contribute, must, or be held accountable by subsequent
generations.
Africa will shortly host the Johannesburg Conference for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) from 24 August to 5 September 2002.
ITANA could play a key role in making the case for concerted action in this
area. Encouraging are the recently published ICSU (International Council for
Science) reports which demonstrate a strong commitment by the international
science and technology community to sustainable development.
There appears to be a gathering coalition to embrace science and technology,
along with good governance, to provide for a more food, health, economic and
environmentally secure future.
IT as a tool for micronutrient nutrition program support in Africa / La TI
comme un outil pour le soutien des programmes en nutrition de
micronutriments en Afrique
Kate Wild
Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
A number of key factors must be considered if ICTs are to provide effective
support to micronutrient nutrition programming and implementation in
Africa. These include, inter alia:
• institutional actors (international organisations, governmental and nongovernmental,
governments, universities and research centres, ngos,
professional associations);
• program foci (policy, advocacy, training, operations);
• information needs (defined in terms of information types, issues, formats
and audiences);
• availability of ICTs and connectivity;
• policies to extend connectivity either at national level or within
government ministries;
• capacities of participating organisations to use ICTs and to envisage
innovative applications to meet their own needs.
The strategic introduction of ICTs often requires that two approaches be
followed simultaneously. In the first place focused, targeted interventions
build on existing information resources by exploiting technologies that are
available and accessible to solve specific problems. At the same time, longerterm
measures are required to identify high impact information, the blockages.
The shorter-term actions will help shape longer-term programs and create
capacities to use their products and services. The combination of short-term
actions and longer term planning allows for the progressive scaling up and
extension of ICT applications.
The scope of the programming exercise will determine the exact mix of factors
to be incorporated into the supporting ICT strategy. This presentation will
focus on the example of the Micronutrient Initiative.