Ghanaian Wins Award for ICT Application in Health

Accra, Sept. 3, GNA - Bright Simons, Coordinator of the mPedigree Network, was on Wednesday named as one of 15 Tech Awards Laureates 2009, global innovators recognized each year for applying technology to benefit humanity and spark global change.

The Tech Awards, a signature programme of The Tech Museum, and presented by Applied Materials, Inc., selected mPedigree Network from among hundreds of nominations from 66 countries, a release from the Accra Office of the World Bank said on Thursday..

Simons developed the innovative ICT software to check the influx of fake drugs. The mPedigree is an application that allows users to send text-message at no cost, to check the quality-authentication code found on the packaging of medications to a mobile short-code and thereby enabling the customer to detect fake drugs.

The Tech Awards: Technology Benefiting Humanity is one of the premier annual humanitarian awards programmes in the world, recognizing technical solutions that benefit humanity and address the most critical issues facing our planet and its people. The awards programme honours 15 scientists and innovators annually alongside

the recipient of the Global Humanitarian Award. Last year's Humanitarian Award went to Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States of America. The Laureates are selected by a prestigious panel of international judges organised by the Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University, and made up of Santa Clara University faculty as well as leaders from educational and research institutions, industry and the public sector around the world. Franklin Cudjoe, Acting Chief Evangelist of the mPedigree Network said: "The Tech Awards is an incredible honour, recognizing individuals and organizations whose ideas and execution of those ideas are changing the world.

"We are proud to be among those recognized for their contributions, and will continue to develop solutions that improve the overall well being of people worldwide. We are particularly ecstatic that our effort to counter the trade in fake medicines in the Region has received such resounding endorsement from none other than the prestigious Tech Museum for Innovation," he said.

Peter Friess, President of The Tech Museum, said: "The global challenges of the day have become increasingly strident, more deeply rooted. Still, there is hope. These incredibly impressive Laureates have all proven to be equal to, or better than, the challenge to make the world a better place.

"By celebrating their accomplishments today, we are encouraging future innovators to work toward solutions to make the world healthier, safer and more sustainable," he said.

Established in 2000, The Tech Awards recognizes 15 Laureates in five universal categories; education, equality, environment, economic development and health. These Laureates have developed new technological solutions or innovative ways to use existing technologies to significantly improve the lives of people around the world. One Laureate in each category will receive a $50,000 cash prize during the annual Awards Gala in San Jose, California on November 19 2009.

Key sponsors supporting The Tech Awards include Intel Corporation; Nokia; Microsoft and BD Biosciences. Key partners include Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society; World Federation of United Nations Associations; United Nations Development Programme and World Bank Institute.

The Health Category, in which mPedigree Network is one of the three Laureates, is sponsored by Nokia, the Finnish mobile handsets giant. 3 Sept. 09