Digital Innovative Solutions for Epidemic Capacity Building

Digitalization is rapidly reshaping global economies and is helping communities build epidemic resilience resilience. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst and has increased the pace of the digital transformation and there is an increasing need to adopt the emerging technologies to cope with the future crisis. Studies reveal that countries and regions that were technologically more advanced have been in a better position to deal with the pandemic. There is a need to build and support pandemic preparedness digital technologies in low- and middle-income countries such as West-Africa, in the battle against epidemics. 

    The proposed project aims to innovate, sensitize, modernize, upgrade and update the digital infrastructure to cope with the challenges posed epidemics. The project will help in accelerating public health security, detecting and responding to outbreaks early, understanding epidemic dynamics as they evolve, and avoiding the uncontrolled and exponential transmission of a pathogen from isolated to pandemic threat.The project will be carried out in partnership with Optimetriks Software Company in Nigeria 

1. Goal:
To develop digital tools such as software and applications to perform the following functions:
• Inputs of biodata and symptoms related to the epidemic by the populace with capacity to locate the particular area with GPS technology
• Collection of individuals vital signs data such as BP, pulse rates, oxygen saturation levels and body temperatures.
• Prompt Telemedicine and linkage to the nearest ambulance services/ response teams for users experiencing pathogen symptoms.
• Dissemination of correct information and myths clarifications on epidemic pathogens.
• Linkage to other regional data base facilities in CDC and hospitals EMR records and cloud
storage
• The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to epidemics and to interrupt the transmission of this pathogen.
2) Project activities:
A) Establishment of Digital Centres: Digital centre headquarters will be established in Nigeria to serve as the operating centre for the project. The digital center will be equipped with computer and consistent internet connectivity. Other digital centres in Africa and other affected countries will serve as a dissemination unit and also house the telemedicine teams with qualified doctors.
B.) Monitoring and evaluation: Open data collection drive to gather information related to epidemics. Algorithms and analysis of the data to get a better understanding of the pathogen, pattern of spread, timelines, safety and effective control measures appropriate.

The target population is general public in west Africa for a start. But the hard to reach communities due to bad road and infrastructure will benefit more from the Telemedicine aspect of this project. 

Epidemic threats are increasing in their frequency, intensity, and severity – yet the world remains woefully exposed and unprepared.  

Ultimately, the collective strength of our global health security and our ability to prevent and respond to pandemics is a function of the capabilities and systems in different regions of the world. The current system of research and development (R&D) for epidemic countermeasures is inadequate, exacerbated by a lack of focus upfront on manufacturing and access. This has led to the disproportionate neglect of advancing new interventions to outsmart epidemics particularly in Africa.

My team is in best position to design and deliver this solution to the sub-saharan populace. We are based in Nigeria, with years of experience in both medical, data and software development. We are “sons of the soil’. We have witnessed pandemics and Learnt from the recent Covid-19 pathogen. Our Solution will prevent and predict the next one from causing havoc to our communities. The Telemedicine service we introduced will benefit the communities we serve by making sure our response team communicate in local languages. We have poor road networks in this part of the world, such a solution will bridge easy and equal access to healthcare 

50000 people particularly through Telemedicine aspect 

We are applying to Solve for partnership, networking, monetary, technical and market barriers which we hope they can help. Additional resource mobilization, project planning and grant monitoring.  
  

• Access leadership coaching and strategic advice from experts in the Solve and MIT networks. 

• Receive monitoring and evaluation support to build an impact measurement practice. 

• Gain exposure in the media and at conferences.

• Access relevant in-kind resources such as software licenses and legal services from Solve supporters

The Telemedicine addition will make the solution accessible from any part of the world.

apps, software , blockchains 

A major aspect of our work is focused on increasing the representation of underrepresented populations in our organization.

• We review our job adverts to ensure they aren’t insinuating a particular gender as the preferred hire/or prefered candidate for the role; 
• We screen all CVs and resumes submitted objectively and in the same way; 
• We use a diverse interview panel to ensure balance in the overall decision/interview outcome and we ask the panelists to complete a scorecard at the end of each interview.
• Additionally, for some roles within the organization, skills tests are administered.