Harnessing digital technologies for family wellbeing: our collective responsibility

14.02.21

UN New York, CSocD59 - A look back at our virtual side-event that took place on February 12th to coincide with the 59th UN Commission on Social Development

It is an understatement to say that the pandemic has given rise to digital technologies becoming central to our personal, family and professional lives, with all three often overlapping. The objective of the event was to address its impact on family wellbeing.

The first part of the virtual discussion covered the benefits, with a focus on the huge potential offered by maternal and child mobile health. Two mobile apps were presented: SAHFA’s JamboMama! and Best Beginnings’ Baby Buddy app. Both technologies are geared to empowering parents, mothers especially, with information and a communication tool to improve maternal and child health.

The event’s second part addressed the challenges that ‘connected parents’ face, especially under confinement as digital technologies invade their everyday lives, turning their homes into offices, their private lives into professional ones. Whether on telework, online distance learning or managing screen times and uses in their children’s lives, it was agreed that parents need both support and information/education on how to make the best use of these technologies to ensure the wellbeing of every family member.

It is now up to us to make digital technologies contribute to family wellbeing.

Full recording of the webinar

Speakers presentations

  • Opening video – ‘Our global MMM grassroots network responds’: featuring testimonials from grassroots NGOs within the MMM network highlighting lasting impacts of the Covid-19 crisis and how they have creatively used digital technology to support mothers and families (with Ceprodih in Uruguay, Mame Pentru Mame in Romania, L’Heure Joyeuse in Morocco, amongst others)
    Watch the video on YouTube

Part I – Practical examples of mobile technologies to improve mother and child health

Part II – Challenges faced by mothers / parents on the use of digital technology

Other information

Speakers Bios

For background information, see also our invitation article

The webinar took place on the margins of the 59th session of the UN Commission on Social Development (8-17 February) with ‘Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all’ as the priority theme.

Our report of the event was also published on the UN Social Development Network (UNSDN) website.

Resources

JamboMama! – SAHFA’s mobile app connecting (pregnant) mothers to health care providers

The Baby Buddy app – Best Beginnings (UK)

Mediatrics

 

 

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