Guinea worm is a parasitic infection that affects people living in rural areas with limited access to clean drinking water. Various organizations have been working tirelessly to eradicate the disease. Their program focuses on educating communities about the importance of clean water, distributing water filters, and providing healthcare to those affected by the disease. However, identifying and treating small waterbodies, which are often hidden in remote and hard-to-reach locations, has been a major challenge for these organizations. To overcome this issue, a centre has partnered with DevGlobal and Dev-Afrique’s expert geospatial teams.
DevGlobal Partners uses advanced satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar data, and mobile GPS technology to help the centre create more accurate and detailed maps of areas affected by Guinea worm disease. These geospatial technologies have helped modernize field processes, and we were able to identify and map the location of small waterbodies that are potential breeding grounds for copepods.
To provide more support to the Guinea worm eradication program, DevGlobal Partners developed a mobile application that contains all the necessary information. The app uses GPS technology to help field teams navigate remote waterbodies, which saves time and ensures that they can quickly and accurately locate potential breeding sites that must be treated for copepods. Once the teams reach the water bodies, the app allows them to log the treatment status directly in a central database, eliminating the need for spreadsheets and manual data entry. This data can then be used to update the maps and provide real-time information on the status of water sources in the area.
The partnership between the centre and DevGlobal Partner is an excellent example of how technology can be used to address some of the most pressing public health issues facing the world today. By pairing modern geospatial technology with the knowledge of local implementers, we are making it easier for field teams to navigate to and treat small waterbodies to eradicate the Guinea worm disease once and for all.
DevGlobal Partners has partnered with a centre to use advanced technologies, including synthetic aperture radar, to identify and treat small waterbodies that could be potential breeding grounds for Guinea worm copepods. DevGlobal is also developing a mobile application to support field teams in their efforts, making the process more efficient and providing real-time data on the status of water sources. By adopting an innovative and modern approach to eradicating Guinea worm disease, these efforts are bringing us closer to a world free from this debilitating parasitic infection.
