Electronic media and Africa
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May I add to the discussion on the introduction and enhancement of
electronic communication and media use in Africa by highlighting the
shortcomings on the ground of electronic communication empowering
agencies. Africa is being brought into the IT age selectively. Of
course first there is the economical discrepancies but there is a
second selection category being applied and I will name an agency
which is an example of this, namely the SA Healthlink, an Organiza-
tion funded by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation USA, the Depart-
ment of Health (National), Commission of the European Union, Depart-
ment for International Development, UK, Rockefeller Foundation, USA,
Independent Trust.
What happens is that Healthlink SA sets up nodes for e-mail/internet
comm. and trains local people to use and manage these facilities,
greatly enhancing those participating and their organisations. How-
ever only the Western based health care system is thus served fully
as the request by the Traditional healers Organisation for Africa for
simi- lar support has fallen on deaf ears. Be careful Healthlink SA
is tolerant in that it allows traditional healers to drill into their
listserves etc. but does not train any of them for nodes management
or use of e-media.
Does any of you have other examples of such selectiveness applied
when introducing e-media to Africa. For sue this could be construed
as a new form of cultural onslaught if more traditionally inclined
Africans are once again in history kept away of pushing the very
needed buttons. In fact it is tantamount to a new stream of Bantu
education and seem- ingly I am the one who has to blow the whistle,
again and again and am ex- pected, without any training to cope with
and manage discussions on listserves in a one sided climate rather
hostile to real empowerment, the bulk of the Western based scientist
of all types.
Regards
Hugo @ NGOMA
Traditional Medical System Development
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Traditional Healer Organisa-
tion for Africa
mailto:NGOMA@futurenet.co.za
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