To digitize information around the coronavirus pandemic in Ethiopia, USAID and the Gates Foundation are working with the Ethiopian government.
ADDIS ABABA (USAID Ethiopia) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to digitize information around the coronavirus pandemic ensuring the government and people of Ethiopia have access to data to help protect people from COVID-19 and prevent the further spread of the virus.
For health facilities, laboratories and public health authorities, USAID has developed a COVID-19 digital surveillance tool for enrollment and tracking of suspected cases, linking confirmed cases with contacts, and monitoring patient outcomes.
USAID has also announced, on 30 March 2020, that it will also work with the Government of Ethiopia to roll-out an application that will support the registration and tracking of all travelers entering Ethiopia to all prioritized ports of entry to allow screeners from EPHI to digitally record a traveler’s personal information for 14-day monitoring and follow-up, in the event they become asymptomatic.
USAID Mission Director Sean Jones said, “Data is not going to stop coronavirus by itself, but will serve as an essential tool for epidemiologists and health authorities to monitor and respond to the crisis more effectively. As the disease burden increases, we need to support health workers fighting COVID-19, as well as other diseases. This is why USAID is proud to partner with the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in building a resilient healthcare system that can better withstand the shocks of pandemics through the use of technology for more timely and accurate data to inform response efforts.”
This is part of USAID’s long-standing partnership with the government and people of Ethiopia for many years to strengthen the ability to prevent, detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases of pandemic potential like COVID-19.
Source: USAID Ethiopia