Convergence of ICT & media for healthy living

Summary form only given. Johns Hopkins University USAID funded projects The communication for healthy living based in Cairo and the Jordan health communication partnership based in Amman provide Web and mobile based technologies for health promotion involving both the public and private sector. The convergence of ICT into the field of health is moving swiftly as consumer demand for health related information is growing throughout the Near East. Mobile technology is being used in both Egypt and Jordan linking viewers with television programming through contests and call-ins during Ramadan. Sehetna.com a Web based portal provides consumers with tips on staying healthy during different stages of their lives while the media materials database of the State Information Services of Egypt allows for health service providers to access Web based materials on-line to assist them in developing materials for use in their own health programs. These publicly and privately funded systems have been developed in close collaboration with user communities ensuring that the technology fits the audience for greatest utility. In this panel entitled "Convergence of ICT & media for health including public/private partnerships" four panelists (2 from Egypt and 2 from Jordan) discuss the following issues: (1) working with multiple partners in the private and public sector to allow for effective convergence including securing funding for systems design and implementation. (2) Communication between developers and user communities: how to navigate for best outcomes: designing user-friendly health systems allowing from maximum client use and related developer-client issues. (Including: how does one best house software so it could be updated and accessed most readily). (3) "Going live" how to anticipate problems and prepare technologies for use with a large audience base including design of beta versions that accommodate user feedback. Each topic was followed by a brief question/answer session to engage the audience.