Providing care, information, communication, work, learning, and entertainment… Digital technology is more than ever at the heart of our daily lives and lifestyles, and its use can provide solutions in the fight against the pandemic.
Across the continent, the media and digital players are mobilizing and implementing digital solutions to support governments and populations.
E-health at the heart of the reactor
In these times of crisis, the healthcare system is challenging African states. But in recent years, the continent has shown real dynamism in the digital health sector. Telemedicine, networking, mobile applications… In the field of e-health, African countries have a role to play in curbing the spread of the virus and ensuring that populations are cared for.
The Smart Africa collective has launched a call for projects to find digital solutions on the African continent and support stakeholders in the healthcare sector. This initiative aims to stimulate the creation of projects in the sector and accelerate the implementation of digital solutions to help governments respond to the challenges of COVID-19.
Startups, microbusinesses, and SMEs will be asked to propose solutions to the following issues: assessing individual risks and guiding decision-making, helping African populations find nearby testing sites, providing reliable updates and alerts from public health authorities, providing reports on the status of the community, and tracking and reporting transmissions.
Education and lockdown
To combat the spread of the virus, many countries have opted for total lockdown of their populations. These measures have a direct impact on the education system and the teaching of young children. E-learning appears to be a solution to minimize these negative impacts. Lamine Barro, founder of the Etudesk platform in Côte d'Ivoire, has chosen to support academic institutions by making his training platform available free of charge and offering free support in setting up an online teaching system. In Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, several institutions have already begun to roll out this digital solution.
(source: Medium article)
Read also: Interview with Lamine Barro, Founder of Etudesk
Orange CI takes part in crisis management
Orange, an operator committed to the digital transformation of the continent, has also made commitments. In Côte d'Ivoire, the group has chosen to work with local authorities in managing the health crisis. As part of this effort, Orange has set up a Government Information Center on COVID-19, in collaboration with the Minister of Communication and Media, Sidi Tiémoko Touré. This call center, accessible 24/7, has been made available to the authorities via the 119 number, to relieve pressure on emergency numbers across the country.
Read also: Ivory Coast – Orange, an operator committed to digital transformation
CRTV adapts to the crisis
In this period of health crisis, the media are at the forefront of prevention and public awareness. Forced to adapt and even reinvent themselves, they are stepping up their efforts to fulfill their role.
Since the beginning of the crisis in Cameroon, the Cameroonian public television station, CRTV, has chosen to strengthen its digital presence in order to better respond to the questions and concerns of the population. To this end, the national channel has launched its own chatbot, "Digital Mama," to respond in real time to various questions from internet users who want to stay informed about the situation.
Read also: CRTV Sports & Entertainment enters the audiovisual landscape