New report cites Nigeria’s EPCON AI as global example of excellence in pandemic preparedness
Nigeria’s EPCON AI project has been cited as a world leading programme for pandemic preparedness by a new report.
Published today in the UK parliament ahead of World TB Day this Friday, the report highlights several areas where the World Health Organization-recommended programmes for strengthening pandemic preparedness overlap with existing tuberculosis (TB) programmes, including prevention, detection, response, and innovation.
[...]
The EPCON AI project uses artificial intelligence to identify potential populations where infectious diseases might be spreading but, critically, where patients aren’t accessing treatment. During the pandemic, EPCON rapidly repurposed their project to help identify potential COVID-19 hotspots. The project was cited by the authors of how innovative TB programmes can help prepare for, and fight, pandemics.
[...]
The report highlights a number of areas where Ministries of Health can build on their national TB programmes to strengthen preparation for future pandemics. These include training more doctors and nurses with specialisation in respiratory care, integrating TB into National Health Security Action Plans, and support community-led interventions.
[...]
While referencing the SDG 3 goal to end TB by 2030, Ikeh highlighted that technology held the key: “The integration and deployment of technology and innovation into TB control efforts in Nigeria could be a game changer.” She said: “In this era where everyone is trying to do more with less resources, the value add of deploying technology in every single aspect of TB control efforts in order to maximise impact can not be overemphasised.”
[...]