The Internet and Healthcare in Somalia: Knowledge is Power

Abstract

The introduction of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) by the UN has highlighted the need to improve healthcare conditions across the globe. These goals are particularly pertinent in Somalia, one of the least developed countries in the world. This paper intends to look at the way the burgeoning telecommunications network in Somalia can benefit healthcare professionals by providing access to the internet which in turn provides access to information that can improve healthcare. The paper will argue that although the development of healthcare is commonly associated with the modernization paradigm, the internet can offer a more participatory approach to benefit healthcare professionals in Somalia.