West Blue Consulting, the award-winning ICT consultancy that delivers innovative technology solutions to public and private sector entities across Africa, has expanded its product portfolio with the roll-out of its Epidemic Response Hub in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
The Epidemic Response Hub is a public health surveillance tool that monitors disease outbreak and disseminates geospatial information to both policy makers and the general public, with the aim of curbing the spread of disease.
Acquired by the Government of Ekiti State in Nigeria to combat the spread of COVID-19, the platform enables the real time capture, storage and analysis of public health data such as the location and current occupancy rates of medical facilities, interactive maps showing exactly where outbreaks have occurred, as well as real-time contact tracing.
The hub was launched by the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, at the height of the outbreak and has since enabled public health officials to successfully monitor and curb the spread of the coronavirus in the state, while enabling its citizens and residents to access critical healthcare information.
Through the platform, which is accessible via smart phones, members of the public can report suspected cases, as well as self-diagnose using the hub’s self-assessment tool. It also includes a gateway through which users can make donations to humanitarian causes.
Following the roll-out of the Epidemic Response Hub, Founder of West Blue Consulting, Valentina Mintah, said: “Serving the public good has been a core value of West Blue Consulting since its inception in 2012 and we are proud to be supporting Ekiti state in its fight against COVID-19. As West Africa, alongside every region in the world, faces the extreme public health challenges caused by the coronavirus, West Bluehas harnessed its unique IT expertise to develop a bespoke and highly customisabledigital platform that aims to help curb the spread of the disease.”
Ms. Mintah continued: “Critically, the Epidemic Response Hub includes a social mobilisation tool that allows members of the public to donate funds and goods to entities distributing aid and resources to those most in need.It is a one-stop-shop thatenables state officials and the public to come together to prevent the spread of the disease, and protect society’s most vulnerable.”
The hub also enables traders and retailers to apply for official permits to re-open stores selling essential goods. Applicants are then provided with a code that can be verified by security services when conducting community checks.
Mark Addo, CEO of West Blue Consulting added: “The Epidemic Response Hub is the first-of-its-kind in West Africa, and has been developed to support the response to highly contagious diseases such as Lassa fever, cholera, measles, Ebola and the novel coronavirus. What sets this tool apart is its accessibility, combined with its ability to facilitate interactivity between state health authorities and members of the public, thereby enhancing transparency and information sharing.”
The Epidemic Response Hub signals the expansion of West Blue Consulting’s offering into the public health sector. Previously, the company successfully devised and delivered national single window platforms for Nigeria in 2013 and Ghana in 2015, significantly improving trade facilitation and leading to multi-million dollar savings for both governments.
For more information, visit:http://covid19.ekitistate.gov.ng.
About West Blue Consulting
West Blue Consulting is an award-winning ICT consultancy that delivers innovative technology solutions to public and private sector entities across Africa. With a core focus on trade facilitation and process automation, West Blue Consulting deploys its proprietary software to enable clients to enhance competitiveness and reduce the time and cost of doing business.West Blue Consulting provides cutting-edge, sustainable technology solutions across a wide range of industries and verticals including trade and customs, mining, ports and logistics and international development.
For more information, contact:
Bashir Kabir (GM)
Bashir@westblueconsulting.com
+2348036302927
