AU, China's ZTE launch smart health system project

ADDIS ABABA — The African Union (AU) and ZTE, one of Chinese leading global telecom companies, on Thursday launched a smart health system project at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

The two sides signed agreement last year to enhance cooperation in the area of ICT and smart digital transformation, and provide the AU Commission with a Smart Health Monitoring Center.

The pan-African bloc hailed the project that would contribute to improved healthcare delivery system at the AU and thus, attainment of the Agenda 2063.

The AU Medical and Health Services Directorate (MHSD) aims to make healthcare more proactive, integrated, personalized, and empowered through the launching of a Smart Health Monitoring project, noted Yankuba Kassama, MHSD Director, in his statement at the inaugural ceremony.

With the smart health system, efforts are going on at the MHSD, including, the integrated electronic medical record system, fully automated radiology unit, various auto-analyzers in our laboratory, a modern dental suite and a first class ear/nose/throat facility.

Other projects include telemedicine and capacity building for medical staff at various centers of excellence across the globe.

All aforementioned projects are crosscutting efforts to bring smartness to everyday activity at the MHSD, said the director, adding, more of such smartness like state of the art ambulance will soon be introduced so that care can go beyond hospitals or clinics and into the comfort of wherever staff find themselves.

Commending ZTE for the cooperation gesture, the director said, "You have exemplified the spirit of innovation. You have brought bright ideas and technology together. You have made healthcare delivery easier and better for us. We look forward to reap the benefits in terms of efficiency, client satisfaction and better patient outcomes."

Albert M. Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry said that "The Smart Health Monitoring Center that is being inaugurated today provides a timely platform for us to take a deep dive into our transformation strategy and efforts so as to evolve a sustainable healthcare solution at the AUC and give the community we serve good health."

Chen Ning, Counselor, Cooperation and Exchange Office at the Chinese Mission to AU, on his part expressed China's continued commitment to supporting Africa's health sector.

Chen said China is preparing to augment the functions of the AU Conference and Office Complex (AUCC), which was built with a Chinese government grant, with the on-going construction of an integrated service center.

He also revealed that China is going to build a China-Africa Friendship Garden, just between the office building and the Integrated Service Center, while upgrading other facilities such as the radio and TV studio, a top cover for the amphitheater, and the modern equipment of the printing center at AU.

"Apart from all the projects I just mentioned, ZTE's support to AU today in the field of medical and health services could also regarded as one of the small projects linking with for the establishment of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). China will strongly support the Africa CDC and to improve the well-being of the African people," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Zhang Jintao, Acting CEO of ZTE Ethiopia, noted that the project is the company's social responsibility to uplift health conditions of Africa to upgrade medical facilities by using its leading experiences as it did worldwide.

To accomplish the MoU signed earlier between the two sides, ZTE has established a demo smart health monitoring room to show how the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC) will operate.

Stating that Smart Health Monitoring Room uses the power of networked technologies to reduce barriers to healthcare access, Zhang said based its philosophy of "mutual benefits and win-win cooperation," ZTE establishes a strategic cooperation partnership with the whole African nations to provide excellent solutions and services for customers.