Chioma Umeha
The Lagos State Ministry of Health and the
Primary Healthcare Board, in collaboration with EpidAlert, has concluded plans
to use technology to reorganise communities’ response to disaster prevention.
Called AlertClinic, the technology will have its
test run at Yaba in Lagos.
AlertClinic is a communication and notification
system designed with algorithms around information flow and the persuasion of
critical behaviours and choices.
According to Dr. Lawal Bakare, its initiator,
the pilot phase of AlertClinic is targeted to address malaria, Lassa fever,
diarrhoeal and polio.
The initiator also itemised the four diseases as
major threats to disease control systems of the state’s Ministry of Health, the
Primary Healthcare Board and Lagos residents.
However, the Founder AlertClinic and EpidAlert
Initiative noted that the state government agencies would use technology to
tackle the challenges.
Dr Bakare also explained that AlertClinic will
provide two-way notification support to communities, households and the public
health institution in Lagos.
He further observed that the state’s Ministry of
Health is championing health care emergencies nationwide, especially by
involving disease notification officers in local government areas.
He assured that AlertClinic would reduce the burden of Malaria,
Lassa fever and Cholera (and other diarrheal diseases) in target communities.
“Notification will rise for the ‘notifiable’
diseases and the public health response time will drop when threats are
identified; leaving communities healthier and more resilient,” he said.
Bakare said that AlertClinic would be experienced online and
offline in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area after the launch of the
initiative on tomorrow, adding that the area was selected for the pilot phase
as it presented the ecosystem for early uptake of technology innovations as
well an environment that will benefit from it.”
According to Dr Bakare, “Lagos Mainland is the home of Nigeria’s
technology hub in Yaba, higher institutions with thousands of students like the
University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology as well as a large youth
population, communities such as Makoko, Ebute Metta.
“Also, we have military cantonments and police barracks, health
and research institutions such as Nigeria Institute of Medical
Research, the NCDC’s Central Public Health Laboratory and most importantly the
Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board and Infectious Disease Hospital.”
He also said that the immediate environment
provided the needed atmosphere for implementation of AlertClinic in the state
and from there its coverage area will be extended to other parts of the state
and beyond.
