UN and Intel unveil initiative on technology-based training for midwives
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the computing company Intel have unveiled a joint effort to strengthen the skills of midwives and community health workers through technology.
The joint effort is in a bid to reduce the number of pregnancy and childbirth-related deaths across the world.
The initiative will increase the capacity of health workers around the world through software and technical assistance provided by Intel Corporation. It would also provide wider availability of higher-quality education through training and materials from UNFPA.
Intel will build on its commitment to the UN Every Woman, Every Child initiative to help train one million frontline health workers by 2015 under the Intel 1Mx15 Health project.
An estimated 360,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth. Up to two million babies die within the first 24 hours of life, largely because of a lack of access to properly trained health workers, according to the UN.
The UNFPA-Intel initiative will use an existing health care education platform to provide open access multi-media content delivery in an “anytime, anywhere” capacity. The content delivery and assessment platform will train midwives and other health-care workers.
Intel will also work with various governments to help increase the availability, affordability and usage of technology. UNFPA, for its part, will develop the training content with relevant partners and professional organizations. The agency will also engage stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and multiplier effect of the programme.
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