Do you remember EbolaAlert? Today, its founder Dr. Lawal Bakare and his team launched an app called AlertClinic in Yaba, Lagos.
www.alertclinic.com
The AlertClinic app was created to answer the question: how can we make sure we detect infectious diseases early so that we can respond and contain outbreaks thereby protecting our communities?
The best way to tackle potential outbreaks is by early detection and surveillance. AlertClinic does that by disseminating disease information effectively, monitoring outbreaks, and providing disease surveillance.
WHY ALERT CLINIC?
“Our public health system across the country has officers responsible for disease surveillance and detection. But the messages don’t always reach them on time. Sometimes people die first.” -Dr. Lawal Bakare
The AlertClinic app exists because people don’t get the right information at the right time and don’t know where to go to get help when a potential outbreak starts. AlertClinic provides two way notifications between communities and the Ministry of Health. But it’s not just about technology. It’s a system of tools and methods that allows Nigeria to better implement the country’s integrated disease surveillance response (IDSR) system.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Are you or someone in your family sick? Suspect something is wrong? Could it be an infectious disease? AlertClinic makes it easy to get help. Download and open the AlertClinic app and click to send a notification. AlertClinic will make sure the responsible officer for your area and state will come to investigate.
How do you get the AlertClinic app? It’s only available on the Google Play store right now but within a week or two, it will be available on your phone browser. Just visit www.alertclinic.com. It’s in the pilot stage and only available for Lagos Mainland but will soon expand across Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. And for people without smartphones, AlertClinic Officers visit communities and interact with people, gathering information about notifiable diseases. Then they share the information on the AlertClinic system to ensure everyone can contribute.
We support AlertClinic and commend Dr. Bakare and his team for working tirelessly to build a local solution to a local challenge. We look forward to working with them as it rolls out nationwide.
Check out some pictures from the event:
