My last several blog posts have introduced various examples of ways in which information and communication technology have intersected and impacted the realm of global public health. I have discussed problems of inequality caused by differences in ability to gain access to the Internet, the creation of an open and democratic Internet, the role of cell phones and text messaging in enhancing community healthcare efforts, the role of various organizations in supporting mobile health, the inequalities created by the use of copyrights on the Internet, and a more in-depth analysis of a specific initiative to create a democratic Internet. To wrap things up this week, I wanted to bring the focus directly back to the issue I raised in my first post – the digital divide and what is being done to bridge it.
So in considering the realm of global public health, the digital divide is clearly a distinctive feature. The differentials in access to the Internet, and by proxy, information, have a lot of implications for people’s health. The Internet makes available a vast array of resources but when people cannot get online, then what purpose does it serve that these resources even exist? (Although that is by no means meant to imply that the Internet is futile as so many people can and do get online. As I mentioned in my first post, websites like WebMD get a huge number of hits everyday from people trying to gather health information or make self-assessments of their health statuses. But how many people in the developing world actually have the capability and wherewithal to search WebMD in these situations? That is not even to mention the fact that sites like WebMD may not even exist in these regions. This is where issues related to legal obstacles like copyrights or linguistic barriers come into play…)
But information and communication technology have revolutionized various elements of health and healthcare. Take the role of cell phones, for instance. The text messaging capability of cell phones has improved speed and efficiency of healthcare delivery in countries like Malawi and provided a means by which people can seek and attain health-related information (such as diagnoses, dosage inquiries, symptoms, check-up and appointment reminders, etc.). It has enabled community healthcare volunteers in rural villages to become more available to respond and focused in their provision of care. It seems that here the only challenge would be setting up the infrastructure to support this sort of mobile healthcare system. A system like this requires a mobile phone network that extends to the rural villages from a centralized location such as a city hospital. And of course, the actual physical cell phones themselves would need to be provided. But perhaps this is where an NGO or other such organization could enter the picture. They could focus their efforts on creating a project to collect old or discarded cell phones from people in developed countries to then ship to those in more rural communities who could benefit from the cell phones.
In bridging the digital divide, I think it is most important for NGOs to come up with creative ways to respond to areas of need. As in the cell phone example, these creative responses need not be complex. But they must address the problem of lack of access to certain important resources. I am greatly disturbed by the thought of how much wastefulness occurs in certain societies with time, money, and other resources. We need to find a way to channel these facets into creative, productive, and perhaps even collaborative energies that will contribute to this “bridge-building” effort.
In several of our lectures in class, we learned about the importance of getting the local communities involved and empowering them to help themselves. I agree that this is an essential characteristic to any solution that could possibly materialize. Sure, there may be a stark difference in available resources and know-how, but these must be imparted in such a way that change will be beneficial and sustainable. Globalization has made the exchange of resources and information between different actors much easier than in previous decades. I am optimistic that the digital divide will eventually be bridged.
…I guess the next question remains, when will the divide finally be bridged? it seems to me that a lack of infrastructure, physical and technological, is a large contributor to the divide. I was reading in the Markle book that there’s a Supercourse based from Univ of Pittsburgh that is a free database containing thousands of lectures and research on global health. A group from a developing country tried to access one lecture, and it took them 18 hours just to download the powerpoint! So obviously, just providing the bridge isn’t even efficient, if it’s impractical to use! Yet, if the advancement of technology/communications will continue to improve as much as it has been, then I’m also optimistic that’ll we’ll see some great strides made in the near future! Thanks!