May 19, 2009, Chapel Hill, NC—IntraHealth International will highlight its commitment to leveraging technology to benefit the people of the developing world during the 36^th annual International Conference on Global Health in Washington D.C., May 26-30.  Hosted by the Global Health Council, this year’s conference, “New Technologies + Proven Strategies = Healthy Communities,” focuses on the ways in which technologies in combination with best practices and evidence-based policies improve health around the world.

“IntraHealth wants to help strengthen local health workers’ ability to identify, develop and implement appropriate technologies that support improved global health outcomes,” says President and CEO Pape Gaye, who will speak as part of a special session, “The Big Choice: The Successes and Challenges of Open Source Technology.” 

The global nonprofit will host an evening ceremony at the conference celebrating its recently launched IntraHealth OPEN Initiative to benefit Africa’s health workers. IntraHealth has partnered with Youssou N’Dour, Nas, Peter Buck of R.E.M. and a host of global leaders in music, technology and public health, to create and release a series of free MP3s in support of the campaign.  Participating bands will be performing at the event including Afrissippi, Toubab Krewe, DJ Equal and Umar Bin Hassan of The Last Poets.  IntraHealth and Indaba Music will announce the winner of the IntraHealth Global Music Remix Contest at the event, and premiere a clip from the new Youssou N’Dour biopic “I Bring What I Love.”

An interactive expo hosted by the IntraHealth-led USAID Capacity Project will demonstrate resources and open source software designed to build local equity and expertise and help decision makers use data to lead and manage successfully.

IntraHealth’s work is also featured in workshops and sessions on human resource and health management information systems, new technologies for supervision and Geographic Information Systems. Staff and partners from Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda will be attending.

Concurrent with the conference, IntraHealth is holding the inaugural meeting of the IntraHealth OPEN Council, bringing global leaders and local innovators in technology and public health together to discuss eHealth strategies in the developing world.

Full IntraHealth Conference Schedule

IntraHealth International is a global health nonprofit that champions the critical role of health workers in health and development. For over 30 years, IntraHealth has empowered health workers to better serve communities in need, fostering local solutions to health care challenges by improving health worker performance, strengthening health systems, harnessing technology, and leveraging partnerships. The nonprofit’s work is supported and funded by the US Agency for International Development, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, private foundations, corporations and individuals.

Contact: Laura Hoemeke
IntraHealth International
+1 919-360-7799

Heather LaGarde
IntraHealth International
+1 336-675-7704