25/11/2014

Ooredoo innovatively applying mobile technology to empower and connect women in Myanmar

Ooredoo was awarded a Bronze Stevie Award in the Women in Business Awards this week in New York for its mobile maternal healthcare app, "maymay", developed in conjunction with local start-up Koe Koe Tech and NGO Population Services International (PSI), which aims to help reduce the country's high maternal and infant mortality rates.  

Launched in September 2014, "maymay" bridges the mobile and health sectors to help ensure that a wealth of useful and timely maternal, child health and wellness information is at the fingertips of women across Myanmar both during and after pregnancy. 

Initial development of the service was made possible via funding granted to Ooredoo from the GSMA Connected Women programme.  Ooredoo is a committed long-term partner of the programme which seeks to close the ICT skills gender gap, attract and retain female talent and encourage female leadership in technology on a global basis.

Dr Nasser Marafih, Group CEO, Ooredoo commented: "We believe every woman should have an equal opportunity to use a mobile phone and to benefit from this connectivity.  We are delighted to receive this award for the "maymay" app which we think is a prime example of how mobile technology can be harnessed to improve access to essential information.  We have taken a lead in providing life-enhancing services for women and this initiative is a great example of our efforts to support the greater inclusion of women and to accelerate the female digital economy across our markets."    

The 'MayMay' app was showcased at Myanmar's first-ever Connected Women conference in Yangon hosted by Ooredoo and focusing on the role of women in Myanmar's rapidly growing mobile and technology sectors. During the event, Ooredoo's start up accelerator, Ideabox, also launched Geek Girls Myanmar, a community group of female technology professionals, students and enthusiasts and the first designed-for-women initiative in the technology industry in Myanmar, which seek to encourage greater engagement and female participation within the technology sector as a whole.   

At the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting held recently, Ooredoo committed to working with the GSMA and other partners to develop studies which derive critical insights into the socio-economic benefits of greater inclusion of women in the telecommunications sector. The findings will be used by partners - including Ooredoo - to develop initiatives and services for female consumers and employees. In Myanmar Ooredoo will draw on the data to provide tailored services for women with the objective of connecting millions of women to mobile and internet services, many of whom have had no prior access to the Internet.

The prestigious Stevie Women in Business Awards received more than 1,200 entries this year from organizations and individuals around the world for consideration in more than 90 categories while more than 300 women and their guests are expected to attend the presentation on Friday.

About Ooredoo Group

Ooredoo is a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people's lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communications to help people achieve their full potential. Ooredoo has a presence in markets such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, the Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia. The company was named "Best Mobile Operator of the Year" at the World Communication Awards 2013.

The company reported revenues of US$9.3 billion in 2013 and had a consolidated global customer base of more than 95 million people as of 31 December 2013. Ooredoo's shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Twitter: @Ooredoo

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