Seychelles’ IT network a pacesetter.

The giant software company
Microsoft has chosen the Seychelles’ health information technology network as a model in Africa, for connecting all its health units via an intranet system.

Microsoft is using the health department as a “case study” to show its clients and partners across the globe how its technology can be used.

The system interlinked the department of health’s headquarters and the 16 units (except 3) by computer.

“This new network has improved communication, saved time, telephone call charges, transport and paper,” says the director for health planning and information, Dr Bernard Valentin.

The project started in 2001, with Microsoft joining in 2003 with the donation of software worth R200, 000. The company also offered the services of a consultant who trained the staff and put in the necessary security codes to ensure strict confidentiality.

“Seychelles could benefit even more in terms of telemedicine if the country could link up with the outside world via the main fibre optic cables currently running along eastern Africa,” according to the Microsoft regional representative Marc Israel.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) liaison officer, Dr Cornelia Atsyor said that through the project, Seychelles has become a pacesetter for other WHO countries in the region.

“It shows that this is workable and other countries can follow the example that Seychelles has set.”

Editor’s note: the Seychelles Health Department’s project is the only public sector one featured among another three from the region on the Microsoft website, under case studies. The others are the
Mauritius Commercial Bank, the Mauritius Textiles Company and
Air Madagascar.