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Article: At last, Africa faces disease head-on: the July AU Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, marked a significant change of priorities for Africa by putting the long neglected issue of health at the top of the agenda. A unique international video-conferencing system brought a host of stakeholders worldwide together in the first major attempt by Africa to step up the war against disease.
- Article from:
- African Business
- Article date:
- August 1, 2003
- Author:
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The African Union's second Summit, held in Maputo, Mozambique in July was remarkable for at least two reasons: One was the priority given to the perennial battle against Africa's killer diseases, Aids, Malaria and tuberculosis (TB) and second for the introduction of satellite-linked video-conferencing.
The unique technological initiative linked Mozambique to the rest of the world for the Summit's Forum on Health and Development--specifically, Aids, malaria and TB. It was the first ever open public forum with African Heads of State, or for that matter with heads of state anywhere.
Satellites, TV, radio and Internet streaming linked 22 African countries ...