In a significant step toward enhancing public health strategies, the Federation of African Medical Equipment, Disposables, and Devices Manufacturers and Suppliers (FOAMEDDMS) participated in a roundtable discussion organized by Strathmore University Business School in partnership with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD).
This event took place last Wednesday at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, focusing on the use of Citizen-Generated Data (CGD) to combat environmentally sensitive infectious diseases, including cholera, dengue fever, schistosomiasis, and cutaneous leishmaniasis, across several countries, notably Ghana, Kenya, and Colombia.
Strathmore University, known for its mission to develop ethical and transformational leaders through research, innovation, and the dissemination of business and management knowledge, played a pivotal role in conducting the scoping study for this initiative.
The university envisions itself as a leading world-class business school spearheading Africa’s transformation, guided by its values of wisdom, excellence, trailblazing and service to society.
Dr. Emmanuel K. Ireland, National Chairman (CCPA) making a valuable contribution
The roundtable brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, World Vision, the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, the Community Practice Pharmacists Association (CPPA), the University of Ghana, and other notable organizations.
This assembly aimed to conduct a comprehensive scoping of CGD methods and their application in addressing public health challenges, with Strathmore University leading the scoping study.
This roundtable discussion was attended by technical leads Eden Fitsum Meles and Joshua Mbai, who contributed their expertise to this collaborative effort.
Technical Lead, Joshua Mbai leading the rountable discussions
A key goal of the discussion was to evaluate the potential and existing CGD approaches within Ghana, particularly regarding their efficacy in combatting infectious diseases. Participants engaged in brainstorming sessions focused on various aspects, such as strengthening the institutionalization of CGD, validating findings from previous desktop reviews, and strategizing on how to effectively involve citizens and affected communities throughout the data value chain.
For Ghana, the roundtable specifically spotlighted dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites. According to the World Health Organization, approximately half of the world’s population is currently at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections occurring annually.
Fatuma Farah, Campaign Manager at the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, stressed the significance of the roundtable in identifying research gaps related to dengue fever in Ghana.
“The community and stakeholders in the health and environmental sectors must harness this data to tackle the pressing challenges we face as a nation and globally,” she said, expressing optimism that CGD could promote citizen inclusion and enhance government accountability.
Speaking on behalf of the Government Statistician, Mr. Odei Gyabi described the initiative as a crucial opportunity to explore CGD’s potential in preventing and responding to environmentally sensitive infectious diseases across diverse countries.
“Gathering data while simultaneously addressing community issues is a significant achievement that cannot be overstated,” he remarked.
Gyabi also highlighted the connection between climate change and public health challenges, noting how rising temperatures and extreme weather events exacerbate the spread of infectious diseases.
“Empowering citizen engagement is vital. CGD enriches our understanding of community realities and ensures local voices are represented in decision-making processes,” he concluded.
This roundtable discussion marks an essential step toward fostering collaborative efforts to combat infectious diseases in Ghana and beyond, emphasizing the crucial role of citizen participation in health data initiatives.
Ernest Nyarko from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) emphasized the need for innovative data collection methods, particularly in the context of infectious diseases. He pointed out that traditional methods like censuses and surveys often overlook marginalized groups.
“In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we strive to identify new data sources that include those typically left behind. By adopting Citizen-Generated Data (CGD), we can engage affected citizens in the data collection process, which is crucial for addressing community health issues, especially concerning infectious diseases,” he said.
Nyarko highlighted the critical role of technology in gathering citizen data, which enhances the understanding of public health challenges.
“For example, we have utilized CGD to assess the prevalence of female genital mutilation, and we are eager to apply similar methodologies to monitor infectious diseases such as dengue fever,” he noted.
He further added that this approach not only enriches our data pool but also informs policies that can better respond to public health emergencies.
As the fight against infectious diseases continues, the insights gained from this gathering will be instrumental in shaping effective, inclusive, and data-driven health policies for a healthier future.
