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Tanzanian varsity develops app to track disease outbreaks

Thursday May 24 2018
tech guy

AfyaData app developer demonstrates how the application works. PHOTO | SYRIACUS BUGUZI | NATION

By THE CITIZEN

Researchers at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania have launched a digital application to monitor the spread infectious diseases.

Dubbed AfyaData, the program analyses data collected from the field and submits it to the central server via internet connection.

The software then sends an alert to health officials if any abnormal pattern is identified in the data.

AfyaData is mobile and web-based application and can submit information offline including GPS location and photos attached to the data collected.

The launch comes at a time the country is intensifying response after deadly Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

SUA vice chancellor Prof Raphael Chibuda said AfyaData will be used to track diseases such as Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and other infectious diseases.

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The application, according to the developers, is currently in use by over 400 community members and health officials in Ngorongoro, Morogoro, Kilosa, Malinyi, Ulanga and Kibaha districts in northern and eastern parts of the country.

The software was developed by a team of animal, human and ICT specialists at the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) based at Sokoine university.

The project was funded by a US-based organisation, Ending Pandemics.

It is available for download on Google Play Store.

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