Delegates and exhibitors at the 9th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Week, taking place in South Africa’s Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal province, have highlighted the role of technology in strengthening public health systems and supporting faster responses to disease outbreaks.
The Medical Consortium of Africa is showcasing the Earth Observational Health Analytics platform at the summit, which brings together policymakers, businesses and innovators to explore industrialisation, regional value chains and digital transformation.
The platform combines satellite data with public health information to predict climate-related disease risks. It is designed to support early warnings for outbreaks such as malaria and Foot and Mouth Disease, allowing health authorities and frontline workers to respond before diseases spread widely.
Medical Consortium of Africa Representative Jack Makwangela said the platform uses climate and environmental data to identify conditions that could contribute to disease transmission. “It is a platform that uses satellite data to monitor the climate, such as how hot it is, the humidity in the air, because these factors contribute to the development of diseases such as foot and mouth, and the spread of pathogens such as malaria,” Makwangela said.
Makwangela said the system presents forecasts in a way that is accessible to health workers and public health officials. “We forecast them in a way that is accessible. Outbreaks can be detected far ahead of time,” Makwangela said.
According to Makwangela, early detection can help health teams take preventive action and reduce the impact of outbreaks on communities, livestock and local economies.
“When we’re leveraging these sorts of technologies, the recommendations that health workers and healthcare professionals have from the platform can help them stop the spread of these diseases earlier,” Makwangela said.
The platform reflects a growing push within SADC to use digital technologies, data systems and innovation to address development challenges.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
