The Virus Outbreak Data Africa Network (VODAN Africa) has been one of the various opportunities presented during the otherwise grim times of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the KIU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo has said.

“We all know that, with ingenuity and courage, every challenge in life may be turned into an opportunity. and that is exactly the approach KIU is using, identifying opportunities within the context of the pandemic,” Dr. Mpezamihigo said during the university’s 23rd virtual graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 24.

“Last August 2020, I announced the launch of the VODAN Africa Project, to which as Vice-Chancellor of KIU, I am the President of the Implementation network,” he added.

VODAN Africa is a partnership consisting of Universities and Hospitals in Uganda, Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, Somalia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It has recently attracted Asian partners, thereby becoming VODAN Africa and Asia.

Dr. Mpezamihigo expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the project, especially its contribution in providing data for research and clinical observations.

“As part of the global efforts towards strengthening health care in Clinics and Hospitals in Africa, and with initial seed funding by Philips Foundation, and subsequent financial support by the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) and Cordaid, Hague Netherlands, VODAN has so far installed 10 COVID-19 Machine Actionable FAIR-Data Points in the participating countries,” he revealed.

“VODAN Africa and Asia is pioneering the production of health data that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) at local hospitals and clinics across Africa and Asia,” Dr. Mpezamihigo added.

This ensures that medical data are discoverable by computers and accessible under governance regulations and laws of the different countries, which allows health professionals to access data needed for research and clinical observations.

The VODAN Africa and Asia project has been listed and gazetted by the UNESCO 2021 Engineering Report.

Picture credit: Twitter