The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that now more than ever, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) need more resilient health systems, equipped with adequate measures to respond effectively on a local and global level, while minimizing impacts on vulnerable populations, including women, girls, refugees and internally displaced populations.
In August 2020, a research initiative known as the COVID-19 Innovation and Response Project (CIRP) was launched. Using the pandemic as a learning mechanism to identify existing gaps in preparedness and response of health systems, CIRP proposed to investigate the effectiveness of developing and scaling up three digital health innovations to strengthen health systems and improve access to care in at-risk populations in select geographies of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kenya and Tanzania.
Considering the complex challenges faced by these countries, the project employed a multi-pronged approach to applied research, which involved the implementation of several studies to explore the effectiveness of three mobile applications – CoronaCheck, VirtualDoc and Protective Personal Equipment (PPE).
According to Saleem Sayani, Director of AKU’s Digital Health Resource Centre and the Technology Innovation Support Centre, “CoronaCheck is an AI-based mobile application used for early detection of the COVID-19 virus and positively influences health-seeking behaviour among at-risk populations. VirtualDoc – known as Pigia Daktari in East Africa and Elaj Asan in Pakistan – is a mobile-based application used for teleconsultation services to improve access to care for high-risk populations.”
The third mobile application, PPE was used to educate on best practice guidelines for health workers in these regions. The app informed the development of evidence-based, feasible, low-cost and effective alternatives to PPE in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within health facilities. This in turn reduces the burden on the facility while improving awareness and promoting behaviour change among healthcare providers.
These applications were aimed at strengthening existing health information systems by offering rapid response, self-assessment solutions and tele-consultation services to high-risk populations, as well as raise awareness of and promote behaviour change among healthcare workers.
The idea behind the project was to integrate innovation within health systems by developing and strengthening partnerships between the public sector, specifically with local and national health authorities.
CIRP was led by the Aga Khan Development Network’s Digital Health Resource Centre and implemented through the support of Aga Khan Health Services and Aga Khan University. It was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC).
