UNESCO supports Samsung digital village to provide access to health, education

WITh the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Brovo Kim has said that Samsung first Digital Village launched, weekend, would provide access to innovative healthcare and educational needs for the people of Oban community, in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State.
Kim said that a sizeable proportion of rural areas across the continent do not have access to electricity, resulting in isolated communities with limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity, which are necessary components of socio-economic development.
“We are not only bridging the digital divide but also providing a facility that meets the most critical health and education needs of the rural community,” Kim said.
Meanwhile, recent UNESCO report has indicated that there are still 58 million children out of school globally and around 100 million children who do not complete primary education, while healthcare in remote areas is non-existent due to shortage of facilities and urban-rural gap.
The components of the Samsung Digital Village include: a Solar Powered Internet School, built to accommodate up to 24 learners; a Solar Powered Tele-Medical Centre, and a Solar Power Generator that powers up the Admin Centre which can be used as office space for local entrepreneurs and any other nearby school or community centre personnel with limited electricity supply.
Apart from the providing the appropriate technologies, Samsung is also working to ensure that people of the Oban community take ownership of the Digital Village and receive adequate training to optimise use of the facilities.
The solar-powered technologies to the people of Oban community is expected to bridge digital divide and serving as a catalyst for local business development and government service delivery.