UK tool aims to tackle life expectancy gap: The UK's Department of Health has launched the Health Inequalities Intervention Tool, an interactive website aimed at helping local health services and councils improve life expectancy in areas of deprivation. The web tool is designed to help Primary Care Trusts, Practice-Based Commissioners and local authorities in so-called 'Spearhead areas' to understand the impact of simple measures on the life expectancy gap of their local populations. Spearhead areas are among the most deprived and vulnerable areas in the country, typically with more unemployment, lone parents and minority ethnic groups than average. Such areas account for more than one quarter of the population of England and have a lower life expectancy than the rest of the country. The Health Inequalities Intervention Tool shows the diseases which are causing low life expectancy in each Spearhead area, and it provides a "ready reckoner" to illustrate the impact interventions could have, such as smoking cessation, reducing infant deaths and treating heart problems. The tool can be used as part of a comprehensive local strategy to reduce health inequalities, the Department of Health said.
Philippines needs broadband now: The Philippines must roll out a national broadband network now to help modernise its government services, if it is to remain competitive with its neighbours. That's according to the country's Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), reports Filipino newswire Inquirer.net. In a briefing, DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso III said that although the Government's planned national broadband network (NBN) project had been criticised by some, its modernising impact on the administration would put the country in a better position to compete with other ASEAN economies such as those of Malaysia and Vietnam. "From a technological standpoint, the NBN is badly needed," said Formoso. "It is urgent. The countries we're competing with are starting to roll out their own broadband networks. For the Philippines to be competitive, we have to put in the right technology." Formoso noted that the Government had the capability to roll out the NBN project in the next three years, as it would only need to refurbish the existing telecoms network in order to do so.
Chinese execs asked to help fight poverty: United Nations officials have called on China's business community to use ICT to help fight poverty in their country and abroad. "Development is no longer the sole responsibility of governments and non-governmental organisations," said Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang, addressing a group of Chinese executives in New York. "We also need to harness the collective strength of private sector entities in support of our development efforts. We therefore consider you as an indispensable stakeholder in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and disease." Sha noted that ICT can give a boost to education through distance learning, content creation and teacher training, and it can empower women by helping them to acquire new skills. Participants agreed that bolstering information technology can serve to improve quality of life, and that the provision of training is in the best interest of corporations.
Kids' laptop wins design prize: The XO Laptop, also known as USD100 laptop -- created for children in developing countries -- has won an international design award. The XO was designed by a team at the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) foundation, whose aim is to provide every child in developing countries with a laptop. The machine, which is affordable yet technically advanced, was recognised in the 'Community' category at the INDEX: AWARDS in Copenhagen. The laptop, which is about the size of a textbook and weighs less than a typical lunchbox, can be powered by a crank, pedal or pull-cord and is shock- and water-resistant, with a sunlight-readable screen. Encouraging computer literacy is seen as one way to help developing nations catch up with the global information economy. Several countries, including Argentina, Libya, Nigeria and Thailand, have already committed to buying the XO for schoolchildren.
South Africa advances e-gov development: The South African government has revealed details of the next stage of development for its e-government strategy, reports newswire ITWeb. At a media briefing, public service and administration minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said the government would now look to establish an interactive community relationships portal and to provide community development workers with mobile internet access. "We want to make e-government more interactive so that people can ask specific questions," she said, while acknowledging that content on government portals was a problem. She said that a task team had been set up to make sure departments update their websites regularly. Fraser-Moleketi also gave details of a pilot project to equip community development staff who work on the road with mobile phones and laptops with internet access.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Sylvia Leatham
Quelle/Source: ElectricNews, 29.08.207
