Digital pandemic control
At a glance
The COVID-19 pandemic can only be brought under control through a joint global commitment. Vaccines are central to this, as they reduce the severity of the course and the further spread of the virus. In developing and emerging countries in particular, quite few people have yet been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Against this background, the global network initiated by WHO to accelerate the development, production and distribution of COVID-19 medical products (ACT-A – Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator) is a historic example of international collaboration. The goal is to provide at least 900 million PCR tests or SARS Cov2 antibody tests, 100 million medical treatments and 2 billion vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. As the second largest donor, Germany is funding ACT-A with 2.2 billion euros, making a critical contribution to multilateral health system strengthening in global pandemic prevention.
With the delivery of vaccines, medicines and tests at national ports and airports, recipient countries assume responsibility for distribution. This task poses a major challenge: many of our partner countries lack effective digital solutions in their health systems that could support pandemic prevention and control.
Our approach
This is where the DIPC project comes in, supporting COVID-19 pandemic response through digital solutions. DIPC strengthens digital health systems in three interlinked strands of activity:
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Strand 1 – the Digital Pandemic Preparedness Assessment (DPPA) – captures existing digital applications in 5 countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire) that can be used for vaccine distribution.
Our goal
Our goal within the framework of DIPC are digital innovations to solve country-specific and global challenges in health systems with a focus on pandemic response, especially effective and transparent vaccine distribution.
