During the road show Philips showcased local, relevant and affordable innovations. Engaging dialogues were established with customers, governments, NGOs and media on topics relating to key challenges facing Africa and how new innovations can address these: Mother and Child Care, Women's Healthcare, energy efficient LED and solar lighting solutions. In addition, Philips also provided clinical education and training to more than 1200 African healthcare professionals to help improve standards of care.
JJ van Dongen, vice president and CEO Philips Africa: "Philips has been active in Africa for over a century. We are committed to an aggressive multiyear investment plan to significantly increase our business footprint in the coming years based upon locally relevant products and innovations that address the needs of the growing African population. While we already have a strong installed base of our equipment, the benefit of dialogue during this road show allows us to listen to the local stakeholders and understand how we can adapt our technology and products to better serve this continent."
The Cairo to Cape Town road show aims to display the company's commitment to the healthcare of mothers and children, supporting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5. These goals aim to reduce child mortality rates and improve maternal health. Across Africa, the lack of availability of trained and skilled healthcare professionals is still an ongoing challenge.
Philips uses the road show to deliver clinical education on baby resuscitation, foetal monitoring and clinical ultrasound and to train healthcare practitioners on how to accomplish safe childbirths and improve maternal and infant care. Over 1200 healthcare practitioners received training during the current road show.
More than 500 million Africans currently live without electricity. For people living near the equator, darkness falls around 7pm all year round, slowing down or completely stopping many vital activities. By highlighting the benefits of LED and solar lighting during the road show, Philips illustrated how its lighting solutions can address some of the key issues such as energy efficiency, climate change and resource scarcity that Africa is currently facing. These solutions also create opportunities such as an increase in productivity by extending the day with solar lighting. Philips illustrated how it's new solar powered LED Street and Area lighting solutions offer cost effective and reliable illumination. In six cities Philips partnered with Right To Play in a soccer tournament, which took place under solar-powered LED floodlights.
For more information please follow the Cairo to Cape Town road show on: www.philips.com/africaroadshow.
