Cairo, 13/2/2002 The inauguration of new Community Centers for Information

        Technology (ITCC)

To further support and empower healthcare professionals and to broaden their use of information technology.  Dr. Ismail Salam, Minister of Health and Population together with Dr. Ahmed Nazif, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, inaugurated four new Information Technology Community Centers targeting the development of health sector. This inauguration took place in the Center of Medical Education Technology in Roda, Health Information Training Center  in Mounira Hospital,  Center of International  Medical Training in Damanhoor, and Computer Training Center in Smouha. 

            The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) supported the establishment of these centers in order to implement the different IT applications in the health sector. The MCIT provided theses centers with the necessary support for their initial setup in the form of: 40 PCs, with about 10 PCs for each center, software, LAN (Local Area Network),  Internet connectivity.  MCIT as well, and facilitated training of trainers from each center.

            The basic aspect of the project of the formation of CCITs lies behind the will to build a local capacity for the utilization of IT tools and techniques and the implementation of IT applications in various sectors as health, trade and industry. The target of this project is being achieved through these ITCCs that focus on creating local information content and specialized databases for each of the above sectors. In addition, the centers provide basic introductory covering several IT tracks in order to enhance the skills and capabilities of the human resources in each sector.

            Another similar inauguration of ITCCs took place in the trade sector through a cooperation between the MCIT and the Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria. Currently, other ITCCs in the industrial sector are being established.