Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
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Sanofi joins Be He@lthy, Be Mobile initiative
Partnership harnessing power of ICTs to deliver health-care solutions
Geneva, 26 February 2015 – Multinational pharmaceutical firm
Sanofi has joined the
International Telecommunication Union’s Be He@lthy, Be Mobile
initiative, which ITU leads in collaboration with the World Health Organization
(WHO).
Be He@lthy Be Mobile partners include Bupa, Verizon, The World Lung
Foundation, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
Associations (IFPMA), the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance, Novartis and
GSK. Participating organizations are currently contributing to the initiative
through funds, in-kind contributions and knowledge, as well as supporting
country projects. They will join forces to provide multidisciplinary expertise,
health information and mobile technology to fight chronic non-communicable
diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and chronic
respiratory diseases, in low- and middle-income countries.
“With nearly 7 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide today, harnessing the
potential of mobile devices to address global challenges, such as health care,
is now within reach,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “The participation
of Sanofi in Be He@lthy, Be Mobile highlights the significance of
investing in technologies which already sit in people’s pockets, empowering them
to manage their own health: m-Health is an opportunity to create a continuum of
care from prevention advice to disease support.”
“Mobile phones are increasingly becoming additional tools in the global quest
to improve health-care delivery systems,” said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of the
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “This partnership reinforces our
commitment to work with industry to harness the power of ICTs to promote
sustainable economic development around the world.”
Launched in October 2012, the Be He@lthy, Be Mobile initiative will
implement mobile technology and m-Health strategies to prevent and treat
Non-Communicable Diseases in eight priority countries.
Programmes currently underway include an m-Tobacco Cessation project in Costa
Rica and an m-Diabetes programme in Senegal. Planning is in progress for
programmes in the Philippines, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, Norway and Zambia.
“Becoming the strategic partner in ITU’s m-Diabetes initiative is a natural
step in Sanofi’s pledge to take a leading role in delivering meaningful
advancements for people living with diabetes,” explained Ms Pascale Witz,
Executive Vice President at Sanofi Global Divisions & Strategic Development.
“Together, with governments, policy makers and other private companies at the
forefront of global health and innovation, we aim to support the harnessing of
mobile and other technologies to enable learning and positive action among
people who are affected by diabetes in our increasingly connected world.”
“Sanofi’s global reach and diabetes knowledge will help expand the excellent
pilot work undertaken in Senegal,” added Mr Pierre Chancel, Senior Vice
President at Sanofi Global Diabetes. “Through Sanofi’s support, the Be
He@lthy, Be Mobile initiative will employ successful mobile strategies for
people with diabetes and their caregivers, and provide access to training for
health workers in additional countries around the world, furthering our aim of
bringing about far-reaching improvements in diabetes management, treatment and
care.”
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
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Monica Albertini
Communication Officer, BDT
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