Development in rural areas
Dr. Cuzzani (mailto:ocuzzani@GIMBEL.COM)
Tue, 28 May 1996 14:26:41 +0000
Message-ID: <B0000009774@nts.gimbel.com>
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 14:26:41 +0000
From: "Dr. Cuzzani" <mailto:ocuzzani@GIMBEL.COM>
Subject: Development in rural areas
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
I read with interest your message (forwarded to me from Argentina)
Our group have been working in the last 2 years in a project
involving telemedicine to access remote (rural artic) areas in the
North West Territories and Northern Alberta.
We are facing several challenges that I will pass on to your group
and be eager to hear any comments/suggestgions:
1) Although rural areas may have some access to information TV/radio
and newspapers our question is how many actually *use* the
communication in an efficient manner
In the area of medicine, it was crucial; that these p[eople will have
equal access to specialized medicine as people in lareger cities.
Nurses in remote locations have difficulty convincing aboriginals to
have ther health cheked and the cultural gap becomes unsurmountable
when it comes to follow advice.
Training of aboriginals in telemedicne is our next step. This will
probably reduce the cultural gap and help alleviate differences for
giving advice.
I found the process of development of "underserved"areas a
communication challenge.
I want to remark this: The availability of information (any kind
in this case) does not assure the proper utilization intended by the
information issuer and may confound the outcomes.
As in the cities of past centuries we need a *herald* to voice the news
and convey the meaning of them. The alternative is to expect a
variety of interpretations and utilizations of the information given.
Access to civilization does not give assurance of good communication
and indeed have shown that it may backslash from time to time
creating conflict. This is no surprise either, since it is proper of
the communication process. In Canada we had several expamples in
Quebec, BC and NWT.
Finally you will find people interested in some activity of big
cities (football, baseball or hockey) but there is a bottom feeling
of a community apart with its own heritage and characteristics that
will repel many of the political (in the greek way) aspects of
information either because of collective pride or inferiority
complex.
I will be glad to hear comments to this.
Oscar
Oscar Cuzzani, MD, DSc
Gimbel Eye Centre
Suite #450- 4935 40th. Ave. NW
Calgary, AB Canada T3A 2N1
Tel: 403-286-6969
Fax: 403-286-2943