Geneva, 1 December 2015 – The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) signed a cooperation agreement on 25 November for the extension of telemedicine services to rural and remote clinics and hospitals in Zimbabwe.

Through this new project, the Ministry of ICTs Postal and Courier Services of Zimbabwe will receive assistance from ITU in the development of e-health sector policies and regulations. The overall objective of the project is to use ICTs to improve delivery and provision of quality, cost effective, affordable and accessible health services, particularly to remote and disadvantaged areas.

“This agreement reinforces our commitment to work with Member States to harness the power of ICTs to provide practical solutions to attain sustainable development,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

“In the rapidly expanding digital economy, ICTs are transforming people’s lives by improving their access to education, health care and government services,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau.

“By integrating ICTs into its health delivery system, Zimbabwe will empower physicians and health facilities to expand their reach for the benefit of everyone, particularly the most disadvantaged,” he added.

Baxton Sirewu, Acting Director General of POTRAZ, thanked ITU for its support, noting that “ICTs have become a vital component in Zimbabwe’s overall development objectives. The telemedicine project is a step towards safeguarding the welfare, prosperity and enduring happiness of all our citizens.”

Under the project, the telemedicine network based at Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare will be extended to provincial, district and rural health centres/clinics in order to improve access and delivery of medical services to the population in remote and rural areas.