THE chances of saving a life in a remote island in Fiji was very little not too long ago. However, with the introduction of technology many life-saving techniques have been made accessible to anyone, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said at the International Telecommunications Union or Commonwealth Telecommunications Authority Pacific Broadband Forum in Nadi yesterday.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said much more could be achieved with this form of telecommunication.
"The power of broadband to deliver voice, data and video at the same time opens new world of opportunity," he said.
"It has great potential for education, medicine, public health, government services, agriculture and the environment.
"It was not so long ago in this part of the world that a person on a remote island would die of something curable before she could reach a doctor," he said.
"Today, doctors anywhere can consult with experts across the world and share charts and images. This can save lives in our countries."
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji needed doctors, teachers, civil servants, farmers and scientists and ordinary citizens who were prepared to take advantage of it.
"Technology will be judged not by its bandwidth and gigabytes, but by the outcomes it produces for people. We will be successful if we keep our focus on people. We will be successful if we empower our people," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.