Message-ID: <Pine.3.88.9512142257.A12052-0100000@go> Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 22:17:30 -0600 From: Abubakr Alkhalifa <mailto:aalkhali@GO.CIS.USOUTHAL.EDU> Subject: Re: (IT vs. Poverty)=(Let Them Eat "IT") ?! To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Hello Everybody...I feel that the discussion may have deviated, and some people may want to see my 2 x-postings (revised) titled: 1) IT vs. Poverty 2) (IT vs. Poverty) = (Let Them Eat "IT") ?! Please accept my respect as well as my apology for reposting.
mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu Abubakr Alkhalifa Work: (205)459-1617 Home: (334)660-0242 Address: 612 Montclaire Way, Mobile, AL 36609
1)***************************************************************** Hi everybody..
I am a graduate student at the School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of South Alabama. My background is in Economics and Rural Development (BS & MS) from the University of Gezira, Sudan.
We all agree that while Poverty is a fundamental problem of Developing Countries,Information Technology is one of the greatest inventions/achievements of mankind. My question is " Why not fight poverty with this sharp weapon ? "
Here is a synopsis of my Master's Thesis Research.
"In an area that appears to be relatively new, Information technology can participate in solving developmental problems. However, this is most applicable where vital information is complex, rarely available, and/or inaccessible, as is the case in developing countries.
Poverty, food insecurity, and poor nutrition are interdependent problems of developing countries. Poor people have very limited income to spend on food. Therefore, they are likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, and eventually become vulnerable to malnutrition and other diseases. This in turn puts more limitation on the budget they allocate to food. In an attempt to break this cycle, I am developing a prototype for a nutritional computer information system. Such a system would recommend the best remedies to prevent or treat different combinations of nutritional deficiencies. The proposed system would select the least expensive locally available food items that are relatively rich in a specific combination of nutrients. This project, if proven to be successful, should help the poor optimize their expenditure on food, lessen their exposure to nutritional deficiencies, and maintain their food security.
To assure the effectiveness and efficiency of such an approach, I am investigating the means, forecasting the obstacles, and preparing an action plan for the deployment of this system. "
I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, references, sponsorships that will contribute to the testing of this approach, as well as to the identification of other areas where IT can be used in fighting Poverty.
Thank you very much for your time.
mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu Abubakr Alkhalifa Work: (205)459-1617 Home: (334)660-0242 Address: 612 Montclaire Way, Mobile, AL 36609
2)***************************************************************** Hello Again;
Thanks to all who read, shared their thoughts around, and/or forwarded my previous posting on developing a prototype for a nutritional information system as an attempt to involve IT in fighting Poverty.
I would like to respond to all the ideas in the replies I have received on this topic so far, but let me start by a fundamental issue against such an approach (i.e. IT vs. Poverty): "Why talk about computers in places where there is no food, not even basic drugs or shelter ?!" Or in other words, this approach sounds like Mary Antoinette proposing for the hungry people of the French Revolution: "Let them eat biscuits".
My counter argument is: "We (the people of the poor countries) can start applying such an approach by taking advantage of the computer hardware that is currently being used in our countries. Since their use of computer technology is widespread in rural and urban areas of developing countries, and since the proposed approach may become an effective tool for achieving their developmental goals; International organizations, NGOs, and GOs can serve as regional centers for the implementation of this approach. Moreover, the obsolete hardware --by western standards-- which may be labeled "For Recycling" can be a perfect medium for implementing these information systems.
Other information systems may be developed under this umbrella to facilitate solutions to developmental problems where vital information is complex, rarely available, and/or inaccessible, e.g.: * Diagnosis and Treatment of Tropical Diseases * Documentation and Diffusion of Traditional Practices and Medicine * Agricultural Extension, Production, and Marketing * Literacy, Education, and Training ....... to name a few."
My vision is that: Once prototypes of such systems are developed and implemented, it may prove "profitable" to "invest" in distributing computer systems all over the developing world where these systems can be widely used.
A comment on the ongoing discussion around the Internet and Africa: "Lets start by applying the less expensive, traditional information systems to solve our problems; thats how the developed world started using IT. Only after that, if it proves "profitable", lets move to the more expensive, modern Internet".
Many Thanks To All of You.
mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu Abubakr Alkhalifa Work: (205)459-1617 Home: (334)660-0242 Address: 612 Montclaire Way, Mobile, AL 36609