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Every year, more than 3 million newborns die during their firstmonth of life. This year alone, more than 7 million children aroundthe world won't make it to the age of five. While these numbers aresobering, there is hope: Most of these deaths are preventable, andwe already have the tools to help stop them. One of the most promising tools fits in your pocket and is used bybillions of people worldwide: a mobile phone. Access to medicalinformation is a critical element in keeping children healthy.While many communities in low-income countries lackstate-of-the-art health care facilities and trained professionals,they do have access to mobile technology. For example, community health workers in Bangladesh are so busythat they are only able to visit their clients once a month. Amobile messaging program from the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) provides weekly reminders to new mothers and their families abouttheir newborn's health and development. "I was shocked when Ivisited a family receiving these messages," one community healthworker said. "When I told them their baby needed vaccines, theytold me they'd already received them because the messaging servicetold them to!" Mobile technology can help revolutionize health care in underservedcommunities by providing families with health information and tips,delivering reminders to take medicine or attend an appointment,assisting health care workers with clinical decisions anddiagnostics and much more. The application of mobile technology toimprove health outcomes is known as mobile health, or mHealth. Next week, leaders from government, industry and civil society willgather in Washington, D.C. for the "Child Survival Call to Action"forum to focus on how to end preventable child deaths. This is anopportunity to shine a light on mobile health and the vital role itcan -- and must -- play in helping save lives around the world. To realize the full potential of mHealth, we need to developprograms and business models that are replicable, scalable andsustainable. Mobile health is ripe for the innovation that isneeded to save lives. That's why the United Nations Foundation co-founded the mHealth Alliance , which brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to fosterinnovation and collaboration in mobile health. The Alliance, whichincludes members from the technology community, the health carecommunity, the development community and many other sectors, servesas a forum to exchange ideas, build connections, and share tools,knowledge and lessons learned. Together, we are working to harnessthe power of mobile technology to improve health care for peoplewho often don't have access to the services that they need. As part of this effort, the mHealth Alliance helped create MAMA --the same mobile messaging program that reminded the family inBangladesh that their newborn was ready for vaccines. Theinitiative, a public-private partnership that was launched lastyear by the United States Agency for International Development , Johnson & Johnson , the UN Foundation , mHealth Alliance , and BabyCenter , provides critical health care information through mobile phonesto pregnant and new mothers living in poor and remote communities.Currently, MAMA is building programs in Bangladesh, South Africaand India -- countries with high maternal and infant death ratesand high rates of mobile phone use. In addition to providing vitalmedical information to women in these countries, MAMA is focused ondeveloping programs that can be expanded or replicated to help evenmore mothers. Improving children's health is critical to achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals, the international standards set by the UnitedNations for enhancing the lives of people around the world. It'salso a key priority for the UN Foundation because healthy childrenlead to healthier communities, which is good for everyone -- nomatter where you live. Mobile health can make a positive difference in the lives ofcountless children and families. Thankfully, as leaders indevelopment and health gather next week, mHealth will be a primefocus as they build solutions toward child survival. I am an expert from quantumbodyhealthanalyzer.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Blood Glucose Test Meter , Quantum Therapy Machine, Quantum Sub Health Analyzer,and more.
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