[February 11, 2009]

IntraHealth OPEN Initiative and Youssou N'Dour Release Charity Album to Fund Open Source Training for Health Workers in Africa

(Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CHAPEL HILL, NC, February 11 / MARKET WIRE/ --

Global non-profit IntraHealth International is
partnering with Grammy Award-winning artist Youssou N'Dour on a charity
album titled "OPEN Remix" benefiting a new initiative created to address
critical health issues in Africa by putting the latest open source software
technologies directly in the hands of health workers.

Nas, Duncan Sheik and Peter Buck of R.E.M. are among the headliners
donating remixes of N'Dour's song "Wake Up" to raise funds and visibility
for the IntraHealth
OPEN Initiative.

Starting February 11th and rolling through spring, free downloads of the
songs will be available with a suggested donation through distribution
partners including Rhapsody, iLike, Amazon MP3, and
through IntraHealth's website at www.intrahealth.org/open.

IntraHealth OPEN is a global initiative that engages technology, health
leaders and students to develop and sustain software applications tailored
to meet urgent health care needs. The project will strengthen African
health professionals' ability to identify and implement appropriate
technology solutions that make health services more cost-effective and
accessible.

"The IntraHealth OPEN Initiative will foster a new generation of technology
professionals, eHealth workers, and national leaders who understand, use,
and support open technologies to improve health," said IntraHealth's CEO Pape Gaye.

"Open source technologies let us address health challenges collaboratively
with African developers in the lead," said N'Dour. "If we invest in open
source development training in Africa we will be supporting self-sufficient
health professionals able to use technology and customize programs to
address their critical health challenges."

IntraHealth has assembled an OPEN Council
made up of pioneers in the fields of entertainment, technology, and public
health. OPEN Council members include representatives from VH1, MTV Europe
Foundation, ONE, Wikia, Tech Soup Global, Red Hat, The Linux Foundation,
GNOME Foundation, Creative Commons, Open Source Software Institute, OSU
Open Source Lab, O'Reilly Media, Motorola, Novell, Brightkite, The David
and Lucile Packard Foundation, D-Tree International, Ushahidi, and Reseau
Africain de L'Education Pour La Sante. The group is seeking private
partners to help expand and extend the program.

The digital only "OPEN Remix" will be released by the Oseao Media Group and
features top artists including:

Youssou N'Dour

Nas

Peter Buck

Duncan Sheik

Toubab Krewe

Umar Bin Hassan

DJ Equal

Q-Burns Abstract
Message

Gavin Hardkiss aka Hawke

Afrissippi

Beef Wellington

ABOUT INTRAHEALTH
INTERNATIONAL

IntraHealth International has been improving public health service in
developing countries for nearly 30 years. The non-profit's mission is to
create sustainable, accessible health care by preparing and supporting
frontline healthcare workers. IntraHealth has worked to improve health in
more than 50 countries, and receives funding and support from the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, private foundations, corporations and
individuals.

For further information, videos, pictures and song
samples contact Heather LaGarde.

Embedded Video Available

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=920372
Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=473265

Heather LaGarde
Special Projects Advisor
IntraHealth
336-675-7704Email Contact
Fred Hartman
Communications Director
IntraHealthEmail Contact
919-313-9132

Copyright ? 2009 Marketwire

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: