UN agency highlights work

of Cuba's INFOMED

GRANMA INTERNATIONAL
Havana. December 5, 2003
By ALBERTO D. PEREZ-Special for Granma International-

THE International Telecommunications Union (IUT), a UN
agency that sponsors the Information Society World Summit,
has just included INFOMED, the Cuban electronic network of
medical information, on its web page, as one of the
greatest success stories in the use of information
technology for the good of humanity.

On the point of completing 11 years of work - it was
inaugurated in Havana on December 18, 1992 - this network
took advantage of a UN Development Program (UNDP)
contribution of $365,000 to link health institutions in
Cuba and abroad, anywhere where Cuban health personnel are
working. The Pan American Health Organization and the World
Health Organization have also contributed in the financial
and technical order.

That is how INFOMED interconnects the island's hospitals
and polyclinics and a growing number of Family Doctor
Offices with the Faculties of Medicine, medical
laboratories, medicine factories and research and
development centers, thus generating a useful circulation
of information, ideas and experiences in the sector.

Currently, outstanding Cuban doctors, nurses and other
health personnel in 14 nations of Africa, Asia and Latin
America are linked via INFOMED and utilize the services
offered them by the network, including consultation, a
library and updated medical information.

One year ago, in December 2002, INFOMED received once of
the six awards given by the Stockholm Challenge
organization to agencies best expressing the use of
information technology for the public good, with a large
and beneficial impact on persons. This prestigious award
constitutes a valuable international recognition of
INFOMED's unique humanist function.

>From December 10 through 12, delegates from all parts are
to gather in Geneva for the first phase of the Information
Society World Summit to prepare a declaration of principles
and a plan of action.

The second phase is to take place in November 2005, when
the Information Society will be installed at international
level.

INFOMED, the Computer Youth Clubs and the Computer Program
for Elementary Schools, sponsored by the Ministry of
Education, are three Cuban institutions demonstrating the
use of the electronic media for the circulation of
knowledge in wide sectors of society.

In addition to taking part in the debates, the three
institutions have a stand from which to share their highly
humanist experiences.