Andaman7 offers step change for digital health in Africa

Andaman7 offers step change for digital health in Africa

Roundtable Webinar: Beyond COVID-19: The Future of Digital Health in Africa - 29th June 2021

Belgium, 17 June 2021 - With Africa emerging as the new breeding ground for innovative digital health solutions,[1] an expert panel of global development and digital health leaders, including Vincent Keunen, Founder and CEO of Belgian American ehealth company Andaman7, will deliver a webinar roundtable to look at the digital healthcare challenges and opportunities in Africa. Hosted by African Sustainable Development Advisors Inc. (Afrisda, Inc.), “Beyond COVID-19: The Future of Digital Health in Africa”, will take place on Tuesday, June 29, at 1pm ET. As a surviving cancer patient, digital health influencer and founder of a disruptive technology start-up, Vincent Keunen will present the patient perspective in digital health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for global health solutions to benefit all nations. With Africa’s vast population mass bearing the world’s greatest disease incidence and significant healthcare shortages, the challenge and opportunity to increase the use of digital health solutions to benefit local populations, as well as increase real world evidence and data related to diverse populations for global therapy developments, makes this a key discussion.

Digital technologies have already formed a vital part of the COVID-19 response worldwide, offering case identification, contact tracing and evaluation. These rapid responses leverage billions of mobile phones, online datasets, low-cost computing resources and advances in machine learning and natural language processing. However, more needs to be done, not only to address existing challenges but to maintain momentum beyond the pandemic.

Dr Djo Matangwa, Co-founder and CEO of Afrisda Inc., explains:

“In addition to raising awareness around the future of digital health in Africa to encourage donors and investors to support African governments and organizations, as well as private sectors working in Africa, this webinar also seeks to support African health authorities to design laws and policies that will strengthen Africa's health system as a key element in innovation and technology adoption. This event also marks an important collaboration between Andaman7 and Afrisda, Inc. who have signed a partnership agreement to support digital health implementation in Africa.

Discussing his presentation entitled: Can Africa Leapfrog Other Nations by Focussing on Patients in Digital Healthcare’, Keunen explains:

“COVID-19 has highlighted potential digital health roadblocks but this pressure on digitalization should be seen as an opportunity – not just for governments, but for innovators, donors and local organizations to provide essential health services that are affordable, reliable and tailored to local needs. There is already precedent for this. In telecommunications, many African countries skipped the classic landline step and went straight from no communications to mobile communications. The same was seen in the banking industry.

“In places where there is limited electricity and internet, innovations such as Andaman7 can make a huge difference because the solutions work offline. Someone could travel to a big city to charge their phone and connect to the internet and then use the app offline for a week. Looking beyond the patient, there is a huge opportunity to harness the power of decentralized trials, involving previously under-served demographics to improve research and treatments for all.”

As all United Nations member states have agreed to try to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, African leaders have been taking bold steps to improve healthcare systems and acknowledge the potential of digital health. Beyond COVID-19: The Future of Digital Health in Africa is part of Afrisda, Inc.’s workstream based on Collaboration, Partnership, Knowledge transfer and Partners’ Ownership.

Webinar details:

Beyond COVID-19: The Future of Digital Health in Africa brings together a panel of experts to discuss relevant and sustainable solutions to strengthen the health system in this digital health era.

·         When:                   Tuesday, June 29, 2021 - 1pm ET, [7pm CET; 6pm BST (5pm GMT)].

·         Where:                 Zoom Webinar registration here: http://bit.ly/Beyondconvid19-Fofdhia

·         Panel:                   

o   Dr. Djo Matangwa, Co-founder and CEO Afrisda Inc. Toronto, Canada

o   Guest Speaker, Her Excellency Kilumba Nkulu, Vice-Minister of Public Health, DRC

o   Vincent Keunen, Founder and CEO Andaman7, Liege, Belgium

o   Daniel Messer, Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Digital Health & Technical Integration Population Services International, Washington DC, USA

o   Rosine G. Assamoi, Co-founder and Executive Vice President Afrisda Inc. Toronto, Canada

o   Eric Mutonj, Consultant ANICiis, Ministry of Health DRC

o   Dr. Amer Sattar, Director and Consultant in Public Health, Guinea Conakry

o   Dr. Mamello Muhanuuzi, Group Head of Medical Services & Quality Assurance, International Medical Group, Uganda

o   Jan Kennis, Digital for Development Lead Expert, Enabel, Antwerp, Belgium

[1] [1] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30027-3/fulltext