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Developing a Digital Information and Consultation Platform in Zimbabwe

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e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries (AFRICOMM 2021)

Abstract

This paper presents a narrative on developing a COVID-19 digital information and consultation platform for a province situated in southern Zimbabwe. In response to a WHO prediction and call to prepare for the worst, a team of medical and computer experts worked on a sovereign digital platform facilitating COVID-19 triaging over the phone. Ethnographic assessments revealed that platform developments benefitted from national dialogue, engaged communities and stakeholders, and use of locally available technologies and skills. In this paper, the development of this digital platform is placed in the broader facets of local development, data sovereignty, and growth of local capacity and abilities under the auspices of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. The paper reflects on the facets involved in developing this digital platform for digital health interventions aligned with local capacity and needs.

Authors in alphabetical order.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Trymore Chawurura

  2. Total IT, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Shepherd Chikomo

  3. SolidarMed, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

    Ronald Manhibi, Janneke van Dijk & Gertjan van Stam

Authors
  1. Trymore Chawurura
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  2. Shepherd Chikomo
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  3. Ronald Manhibi
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  4. Janneke van Dijk
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  5. Gertjan van Stam
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gertjan van Stam .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. State University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania

    Yahya H. Sheikh

  2. State University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania

    Idris A. Rai

  3. State University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania

    Abubakar D. Bakar

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© 2022 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

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Chawurura, T., Chikomo, S., Manhibi, R., van Dijk, J., van Stam, G. (2022). Developing a Digital Information and Consultation Platform in Zimbabwe. In: Sheikh, Y.H., Rai, I.A., Bakar, A.D. (eds) e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries. AFRICOMM 2021. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 443. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06374-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06374-9_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-06374-9

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