Developing countries are facing a dire health crisis with millions of people dying each year from basic health care deficiencies. Major threats to public health stem from a shortage of health professionals, inadequate health education, and out of date clinical treatment. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to help improve the delivery of information and services to the healthcare community and to end-users in developing countries.

Within this context, the Information Technologies Group is proposing to design and implement an Expert Health Portal that will provide information on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis for policy makers and practitioners in the developing world as well as open the door to developing country users and facilitate access to the Global Fund announced at the G8 Summit in Genoa, July 2001. The Global Fund will provide grants for projects that tackle HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The fund was launched in June by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who stated that between $7 billion and $10 billion would be needed to tackle effectively the three diseases that are widespread in many of the world's poorest countries. The fund will be used to procure drugs and medical equipment as well as prevent the further spread of the disease. This project will serve to complement the Fund’s efforts of helping developing nations prevent, treat and provide care for the three diseases. It will serve to disseminate information about these diseases to the developing world as well as facilitate access to potential funding for these diseases.