FAQs

What is e-health?

E-health is the use of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) to deliver health care. Many countries have begun to focus on supporting their health sectors with the use of ICTs. With an acute shortage of health care professionals in many countries, limited resources and high-profile international efforts to address diseases such as malaria and HIV, the e-health agenda is now a top priority. E-health is a key tool to address the health related Millennium Development Goals as well as the eighth goal – developing a global partnership for development.

What are non-communicable diseases?

They are diseases that are not infectious and can’t be passed on (eg diabetes). Non communicable diseases are increasingly gaining prominence on the global health agenda. Evidence that they account for an estimated 60 per cent of global deaths highlights that efforts to reduce non communicable diseases would have a substantial impact on global health.

How many Commonwealth citizens live with HIV?

Commonwealth countries represent approximately 30 per cent of the world’s population, but carry a disproportionate 60 per cent of the world’s HIV/AIDS current burden of over 40 million infected people.

What are the Millennium Development Goals?

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. (Source: UN).

The eight goals are:

• Eradcate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development