Another similar one in case of interest.

Fiona


-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] at Internet
Sent: 06 December 2000 12:54
To: [log in to unmask] at Internet
Subject: [HIF-net at WHO] WHO press release


'HIF-net at WHO'
The HEALTH  INFORMATION  FORUM with the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Working together to improve access to reliable information for
healthcare workers in developing and transitional countries
************************************************************************
"LIFE-SAVING" SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION BOOST VIA INTERNET TO HEALTH
RESEARCHERS IN AFRICA, CENTRAL ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Open Society Institute (OSI), a
part of the Soros Foundation network, have teamed up with leading
information providers ISI(r) and Silver Platter and other public and private
partners to provide access to high quality scientific information, via the
Internet, to research centres in countries in Africa, Central Asia and
Eastern Europe. Discussions are also under way with Elsevier Science to join
the initiative.

This pilot project is part of a wider United Nations programme called
"Health InterNetwork" which aims to improve global public health by
facilitating the flow of information worldwide, using Internet technologies.

Based on the experience gained in the first pilot year, the partnership will
roll out, over five years, sustainable, affordable scientific information
packages to medical and health research institutions in a large number of
resource-strapped countries. It is anticipated that by the end of year two,
between 30 and 40 countries will have joined.

Research, and sharing the knowledge gained through its efforts, is
fundamental to improving public health. Scientific and technical solutions
do not yet exist for tackling many of the health problems of the developing
world. Yet only a small fraction of global health research expenditure goes
to research into diseases and health issues that affect the poor, such as
malaria, killer childhood diseases and nutrition. One step towards changing
this is to facilitate research in the countries that have first-hand
experience with these health issues.

"Valuable research is carried out in developing countries and emerging
countries, but the researchers are hampered by not being able to share
essential scientific information and communication," says Gro Harlem Brundtl
and, WHO Director-General.

"If the researchers and scientists can read the same journals, search the
same databases, join in the discussion groups, compete for the same grants
as their colleagues from wealthier countries, it will strengthen their own
research, bring them into the international community of researchers and
eventually improve dissemination of their own results," she adds.

George Soros explains, "Through my Foundation I have already committed
significant resources to help bridge the digital divide. Now I want to join
forces with WHO and the world's leading scientific publishers to help
provide information to the health sector in emerging countries."

The pilot phase will enable researchers, teachers and students at leading
research institutions in Armenia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Mongolia, Uganda,
Tanzania and Uzbekistan to access top-of-the-line international scientific
information in digital format, and to integrate the world scientific
community through electronic communication.

The private partners and OSI will organize comprehensive training for
research staff. WHO, in collaboration with the United Nations, will discuss
with service providers in the eight initial countries to provide high-speed
connectivity to the Internet.

"ISI(r) is proud to participate in WHO's Health InterNetwork project," said
Vin Caraher, Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales & Marketing, ISI(r). "Now
we are able to extend access to the ISI(r) database to people in developing
nations whose needs are so severe. We look forward to working with WHO to
train and assess the Project and we expect that it will have a positive
effect on public health research, policies and care in many nations."

SilverPlatter's Chief Executive Officer Alex Sann explains, "I am extremely
pleased and excited to be teaming with our existing business partners and
WHO/OSI on this important venture. It is rewarding to assist research
institutions in their quest to better understand key health issues and we
hope to apply the lessons learned to further improve our product offerings."

The digital divide in information is a new problem, requiring new
approaches. This multi-sector collaboration is breaking new ground within
the field of scientific publishing by making all concerned parties -
including the users of the information - work in concert to provide
solutions that neither the public nor private sector will be able to achieve
on their own.


************************************************************************
The HEALTH INFORMATION FORUM is run as an activity of the INASP-Health
Programme.
Contact Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh   Email: [log in to unmask]  Web:
www.inasp.org.uk
The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION headquarters is based in Geneva,
 Switzerland. Email: [log in to unmask]  Web: www.who.int