Pioneering Health Debate Reaches More Than One Million

A unique global health debate has been hailed a great success after reaching worldwide audiences of more than one million people.

Direct Visual provided an industry first blend of videoconferencing, satellite, internet, telephone and radio links to enable health ministers, other leading representatives from the healthcare sector and members of the public to ask candidates in the election for the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) how they would address the most critical issues in global health today.

Direct Visual's head office in Batley, West Yorkshire, was the nerve centre of the unique debate which connected the candidates with audiences in locations as remote as India, South Africa, Ethiopia and the USA.

Previously, candidates for the Director General - considered to be one of the most prestigious positions in world health - have taken part in a behind-closed-doors selection process before the successful applicant has been announced.

Marina Shaw, Managing Director of Direct Visual comments: "Bringing this conference together was a very exhilarating and rewarding experience. Co-ordination of several different types of broadcast media, and knowing that over 1 million people relied upon the resilience of Direct Visual's service only served to add to the sense of achievement. This has been a real team effort and I am delighted with the way the link up went".

Direct Visual's technology partners in the event included Worldspace, the only digital satellite radio to portable receiver broadcaster in the world; and The Interactive Health Network, a non-profit organisation using online technology to make medical information, training and support available to healthcare workers throughout the world.

Dr Harry McConnell, Director of The Interactive Health Network and the World Health Channel, comments: "This unique event brought together some of the world's most experienced organisations in healthcare technology. The ability for the candidates to be interviewed by representatives across the globe added an exciting new dimension to the whole selection process.

"We have worked with Direct Visual before and are continually extremely impressed by the company's knowledge, experience, support and expertise. We look forward to developing our close working relationship in the future."