African ICT Foundation makes case for Aging and Physically Challenged in Morocco

The 22nd edition of the festival which was organised from June 20-23. "The festival is in line with our goal of accelerating ICT penetration in Africa", the Executive secretary of the foundation, Emmanuel Bassey was quoted during a press briefing in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lobna Smida, North Africa's Regional Director of the African ICT Foundation actively participated in the 22nd edition of 'Gnaoua Festival' 2019 Essaouira in Morocco.

Smida also delivered a lecture on 'Assistive Technology - Health, well-being and socioeconomic benefits of Assistive Technology for Africans everywhere" during the free speech rules stressed on the need for ICT private and public sector's practitioners to invest on the technology to alleviate the sufferings of the aged and that of people living with disability in Africa and the world in general.

An international, cultural and artistic event that gathers different institutions and creators from all over the world in Essaouira, Morocco had in attendance artists, Scientist, literary people, philosophers, musicians, poets and filmmakers who had come to debate with professors, researchers, anthropologists, historians, sociologists, policy-makers during the free speech rules in a spirit of listening, citizenship, commitment and empathy. The debates are enriched, year after year, by citizens' and State representatives: ministers, parliamentarians, elected officials, ambassadors, community activists, unionists, and ordinary citizens.

Assistive technology which is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services; It maintains or improve an individual's functioning and independence, thereby promoting their well-being. Hearing aids, wheelchairs, communication aids, spectacles, prostheses, pill organizers and memory aids are all examples of assistive products.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, more than 1 billion people need one or more assistive products. With an aging global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases more than 2 billion people will need at least one assistive product by 2030 and with many older people needing two or more. Today, only 1 in 10 people in need have access to assistive products.