Month: May 2020

As a developing country, tackling a pandemic like COVID-19 which has no cure and no prevention right now except staying behind locked doors and maintaining physical distancing is a hard job to do, and almost no administrative strategy works here. The economic strength of Bangladesh is not supportive to continue such a lockdown for a long time. Most of the wage earners live on a day to day income in this country. Where many of the offices, manufacturing plants, and shops remained closed for almost two months, educational institutes may remain closed for a longer period. Also, during this tough time, media is playing a major role. People are relying on TV channels to keep up to date.

Bangladesh entered the space industry and became the 57th country to own a satellite by launching its first satellite “Bangabandhu Satellite-1” in 2018. Since then, Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) has been operating the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and enrolled all the TV channels of Bangladesh, which were using foreign satellites, saving more than $11 million cash outflow per year. For more than a year, BCSCL has saved the amount outflowing from the country by broadcasting all the TV channels using Bangabandhu Satellite-1.

During this pandemic, BCSCL has started a new horizon for a developing country like Bangladesh in the sector of education. A large number of students was deprived from getting education due to closing of the educational institutes. BCSCL primarily started showing lectures of different classes on a state-owned TV channel, “Sangsad TV”. Students from all over the country have the privilege of accessing knowledge through this initiative. Following this, BCSCL proposed a concept of several dedicated TV channels which will be broadcasted by Bangabandhu Satellite-1 all over the country. Students from every corner and every class can be connected by this project. Pre-recorded class lectures will be stored in a playout server and will be broadcasted all over the country using Bangabandhu Satellite-1. This technology may already be in use in many countries, but as a developing country where the literacy rate is just under 73%, this is a major step forward.

BCSCL is working collaboratively with other departments of government to give this proposal a shape and hopefully it will be in action within the shortest period of the time. This will not only enable students to enjoy class lectures during this lockdown, but will also in future enable much more, such as:

1. Underprivileged children or others who cannot go to school or college during the day due to work will have the opportunity to learn at night.
2. Where there is a shortage of quality teachers in many schools and colleges, all the students of those schools and colleges will get the opportunity to get education through quality teachers.
3. During natural disasters or any other calamity, if access to schools and colleges are hampered, it will be possible to continue education distribution activities whilst maintaining the annual curriculum.
4. All people irrespective of age and class will have access to education.

 

Fig: Simple Illustration of E-Education using Bangabandhu Satellite-1.

This vision would nonetheless have been implemented in the near future, but this pandemic situation has made people think diversely and enabled us to do things more quickly and efficiently than ever. We at BCSCL are looking forward to making a literate Bangladesh while we move forward to achieve Least Developed Country status and target achieving one hundred percent literacy rate amidst the major setback caused by COVID-19.

Disability inclusive communication and access to information on drugs and medicines for hard of hearing as well as deaf clients is critical to ensuring access to quality health care services and essential medicines for all during COVID 19. Purple Signs is an ITU-award winning mobile phone based platform which enables prescriptions, diagnosis, and drug and health information to be communicated in African Nation Sign Languages, and which is set to allow medical professionals to communicate with deaf patients using multiple African National Sign languages with Purple Signs Sign language translation mobile applications .

As the world battles against COVID 19, Purple Signs has taken the opportunity to make a contribution by driving the enhancement of the rights of the deaf in Zimbabwe and Africa at large to health, freedom of expression, education, access to information and non-discrimination in general using low-cost, high-scale and high impact mobile phone ICT technologies. Android, IOS, DVD and computer application versions have been developed. If the deaf do not learn the standard health care Sign Language variety for the country and if non-deaf (hearing) members of the medical community have no knowledge of Sign Language, then the deaf will not enjoy any of the rights to quality healthcare they are entitled to.

The Purple Signs ‘Sign language translation‘ platform allows live translation of audio to text to  Zimbabwean Sign Language video and vice versa for effective real time high quality health care communication, and it is being translated into the 15 official languages of Zimbabwe native to Africa . This promotes improved patient experience, the right to health and equal access to health information for sustainable development in line with the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), United Nations development goals on quality health education, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities promoting good health and wellbeing, using partnerships for attainment of these goals. The Purple Signs team continues to welcome support in its endeavour to end inequality of access to information as well as communication barriers for the deaf in Africa and around the world during and post- COVID 19.

For more on our work toward universal inclusive access to services in health, education, justice and tourism using mobile ICTs follow the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/PurpleAccessInternational/

All people, regardless of gender, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or (dis)ability, have the right to full access to information and communication. This means that information and communication across all areas of life – for example, in health, education, employment, access to justice, public services or information in an emergency or natural disaster – must be made readily accessible to and usable by all of them.

World in Sign™, LLC (www.worldinsign.com) is an initiative to foster access to all levels of society for ALL through innovation, technology and education. We aim to achieve a better and more sustainable life by working with the sustainable development goals in mind in all our endeavors. We partner with businesses and communities around the world to empower populations often left behind and give them quality access to communication and technology without any roadblock.

World In Sign™’s (WIS) first endeavor with its partner HandHelp™ was to give access to ALL, regardless of age and ability, around the world, to emergency alert systems without the need to make a voice phone call. With the dedicated devices, button, wearables, mobile devices, and app, people in danger or in an emergency situation, regardless of their age, ability and location, can alert emergency services and / or emergency contact people by the press of a button. The alert will be delivered simultaneously to the recipients via text and email including location via GPS, GSM radio networks, and WLAN technology, 14 seconds recording from the mobile phone’s microphone of surrounding sounds and pictures from the mobile phone’s camera. People using sign language to communicate can use the app to call the emergency services directly in their native sign language via an interpreter.

With the global pandemic situation due to COVID 19, people with and without disabilities have been isolated in ways they weren’t prepared for. Because of the diminution of the ability to have physical encounters, the need for visual communication has increased for people with and without disabilities. WIS has been developing and extending its technology to offer products and services to reduce the feeling of isolation people can have. WIS technology provides 2-way and 3-way video communication for virtual interviews, meetings, counselling, healthcare services, customer services, remote court access, telework, telemedicine, disaster alert and more. The technology allows for voice, video, real-time text and speech transcription. This service can also provide video remote interpreting services, where the third party of the 3-way video call is a voice-sign language interpreter to facilitate communication between hearing people and deaf or hard of hearing people.

WIS technology has been focused on remote access to emergency services from the beginning through mobile devices. With COVID-19, the need for “remote everything” has increased exponentially. WIS technology is available from any device connected to the internet without adding extra software on the caller’s side.

WIS is also developing a network of freelance sign language interpreters worldwide to join the remote interpreting effort on a global scale, as well as a network of expert sign language users to fill the gap regarding remote learning and remote education accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing learners.

WIS philosophy is to be all inclusive and provide resources to help you make your business accessible to all, regardless of age and ability. WIS can also provide advice and training on how your business and / or your online resources can become accessible to all.

COVID-19 has shown the limits of what most thought accessible to the majority, and shown that the most fragile members of our community become even more fragile and left behind. It is time to work together to make an accessible world to all a reality, regardless of age or ability. The technology is here, and now we should use it. We welcome all business, states, companies and organizations interested in partnerships to achieve this goal of inclusivity. Don’t hesitate to contact us at contact@worldinsign.com. WIS is available and ready to apply its 21st Century technology to achieve that goal of global accessibility.

The Covid-19 outbreak has prompted us all to shift our mindsets and understand that we have entered a new world, and the old one will never return. The new world involves embracing digital for those who were not and making sure that services are still available and of high quality.

This era has taught us that we can very quickly deploy technology if we focus on the outcome we need to achieve.

As most of the services, both private and government, were locked down, Rwanda created digital solutions to control the pandemic and support her citizens. It is worth noting that most of the solutions were already in place before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Different platforms, including websites that range from nursery schools to universities, provide access to all learning materials to help students at all levels who want to remotely keep track of their studies. With the resources provided, there are questions that can be used in the assessment of the students. The Ministry of ICT and Innovation acknowledged that some students do not have the resources to access the platforms like those without laptops and others in areas with poor internet connectivity, and therefore created broadcast and televised programmes on different radio and television channels.

The government introduced an online clearance pass for people seeking essential services. The platform requires the applicants to feed in their personal details including names, national ID number, telephone number, details of the journey (point of departure and destination), reason for movement and vehicle number plate. After submitting the required details, the applicant is required to wait for a response in the form of an SMS notification from the Rwanda National Police for approved or rejected movement. It can be accessed through a USSD code and website.

Rwanda has increased the usage of drones in various sectors; the Rwanda National Police embraced the use of drones to further raise awareness of the coronavirus pandemic in local communities. Drones are also used to deliver cancer medication and other essentials to patients who cannot reach treatment centres.

Rwanda uses robots in the fight against the Novel coronavirus where programmable machines are used to do some of the tasks in the handling of COVID-19 cases as an interface between patients and medics, in a bid to minimize human-to-human contact and protect those on the frontline, especially doctors who are still scarce.

The government of Rwanda has implemented an interactive map for COVID-19 statistics and a chart bot for related information in partnership with Esri Rwanda. The platform can be found at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/a41c7198367f4298ba330fbc2ca8714a

The government has embraced cashless payments and e-commerce and in effort to increase access to these services by the public, it has recommended nine domestic e-commerce and online grocery platforms to operate during and even after the coronavirus lockdown.

Mobile Money is a system that allows money transactions between individuals/ companies with any mobile phone and without needing a bank account. Telecom companies in partnership with several government institutions encouraged sellers across the country to go cashless amidst COVID-19. The move was in line with discouraging cash exchanges. The telecom companies slashed mobile money transfer fees.

Government institutions continued to provide essential services using an online platform called Irembo. Where the Irembo was not applicable, citizens were allowed to send their request/application via official emails of those institutions.

The Ministry of Agriculture continued guiding farmers via a dedicated hotline and by broadcasting SMSs to ensure that the agriculture season is not interrupted during the COVID-19 crisis.

Rwandan engineers completed the first Made in Rwanda ventilator as a response to COVID-19. The biomedical engineers, from the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Kigali, released the first locally produced ventilators at affordable prices on the market to respond to COVID-19 pandemic, noting that an imported ventilator costs $20,000 but the one that was produced domestically costs between $2,000 and $4,000.

The Nigerian Communications Commission is playing a major role in the fight against the novel Corona virus. The Commission is working with different agencies of government and operators to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.

The COVID 19 outbreak and the attendant lockdown and restrictions has led to a more virtual way of working in the NCC. The lockdown has led to the leveraging of virtual digital platforms to facilitate our work engagement both with internal and external stakeholders.

The NCC as the regulator of the ICT sector has facilitated a national sensitization and enlightenment campaign on COVID 19 to compliment the effort of government by deploying its online social media platforms to disseminate information in English and Pidgin English as well as the three major Nigerian languages (Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba) on the dangers of the Corona virus.

To ensure the effectiveness of the enlightenment campaign of sending out safety tips to subscribers, the Commission temporarily relaxed its “Do-not-Disturb” Directive to allow Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to disseminate messages on COVID-19 emanating from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The 19 Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs) constructed by NCC across the country, which provide the 112 toll–free emergency number, is fully activated to ensure the monitoring and tracking of COVID-19 cases across the country.

The lockdown has brought about an increase in online presence which has led to huge pressure on infrastructure. The Commission has therefore approved resource sharing by MNOs during this period. This includes fibre optics cables and other resources in the event of cable cuts and other unforeseen developments.

The MNOs have also been granted Right of Passage (RoP) as essential services to ensure that they maintain their networks for efficient service delivery during the lockdown. They have also been directed to ensure that their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are in tandem with government initiatives to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide safety and support aid materials that will protect the public against Coronavirus.

In order to ensure the protection of telecom infrastructure nationwide, the Commission is constantly in liaison with law enforcement agencies to avoid any form of network interruption.

The Commission has also facilitated the provision of dedicated short codes for emergency calls through which medical experts disseminate information to the general public. The public is also able to make enquiries about COVID-19 using the short codes.

Finally, through the Commission’s intervention, the MNOs are providing free data access to information websites such as those of the NCDC, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health. There is also provisioning of free SMS for subscribers to help them communicate in addition to ringtones/caller tunes extracted from campaign materials of the Ministry of Health and NCDC.

The Commission is also exploring other measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please find below some links to some of the sensitization programmes:

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2991567600924465/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2989205704493988/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2986879338059958/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2984450001636225/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2980129212068304/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2977784958969396/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2975406039207288/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2964162086998350/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2954862701261622/?substory_index=0

https://www.facebook.com/161066787307908/posts/2950493521698540/?substory_index=0

COVID-19 has brought its fair share of challenges that have caught laboratories unprepared. This pandemic has a high demand for test services, but many labs are under-equipped, understaffed and compounded by workflow inefficiencies. The need for quick turn around and accuracy in testing COVID-19 is no longer customary, but a necessity unlike many other lab tests.

@iLabAfrica, a research and incubation center at Strathmore University, has developed in collaboration with other implementing partners an open source Basic Laboratory Information System (BLIS 3.0), primarily configured for specimen, testing and test results management supporting  functionalities such as lab test equipment  interfacing  and electronic data transmission to other systems(e.g. EMRs). This will reduce manual workload, decrease turn-around times, and improve quality control and documentation to meet internationally-recognized laboratory standards, and improve quality of laboratory specimen testing.

BLIS has been successfully implemented in two county level hospital laboratories in Kenya with ongoing implementations in ten district/regional laboratories in Uganda. This implementation experience with proof of concept has resulted in emerging interest and requests for technical support from a number of countries including Swaziland, Mozambique and Nigeria. We have also developed a growing community of BLIS users including developers, implementing partners, lab managers and technologists and the ministries of health stakeholders.

In response to the growing threat of this pandemic, @iLabAfrica, through the e-Health department, is working to support the scaling of in-country technical and implementing capacity to expand the open source BLIS 3.0 to support labs in testing, verification, integration, analysis and communication of results, and enable tracking of COVID-19 cases in Kenya. “For home or field testing, we would like to in cooperate with a mobile application where tests done can be captured and synced with the national system for real time reporting,” says Mr Emmanuel Kweyu,  head of the e- Health department.

Mr. Kweyu is the Deputy Director @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University and the head of the e- Health department.

To read more on the project visit www.ilabafrica.ac.ke.

The simple act of hand washing is the single most cost-effective way of stopping the spread of COVID-19. However, the complexities that revolve around the handwashing exercise themselves pose the threat of a point to point spread of the virus. Some studies have shown that Sars-Cov-2, the name of the virus that causes COVID-19, can survive on metal, glass and plastic for as long as nine days, if not disinfected. At low temperatures, an extension of up to 28 days can be reached. These are the exact materials that most of the taps in our homes and public places are made of.

How can you open or close a tap without touching the lever? This is the big question. Additionally, can such systems be readily available to everyone? While electronic designs of such nature already exist in most high end public buildings and facilities, deterrents arise in the exact cost of manufacture and deployment. And the scalability of such systems is not the easiest, especially in areas that are mostly rural or with limited access to a stable electricity connection.

It has therefore been our obligation to tackle the challenges posed through the development of a low-cost, low-power, automated “no-touch” hand-washing system. By the use of readily available materials, the IoT (Internet of Things) team from @iLabAfrica at Strathmore University has put together an electronic solution that alleviates this challenge. A simple swipe of your palms across the tap’s spout triggers the voluntary action of an electronic valve opening to allow water onto your hands for the duration of the washing exercise. The absence of your palms causes the valve to shut automatically.

Simple low-cost sensors coupled with microcontroller action enable this functionality. In addition to this device, a cloud-based communication mechanism that keeps track in real time the ON and OFF fluctuating pattern of the valve. From a demographic point of view, this makes it possible for a responsible organization or authority to monitor the sanitization patterns of its population and put necessary measures in place to ensure given directives are followed. With the installation process simplified, accelerated deployment will be easily achieved.

The end goal of the device is to avoid the inevitable contact with tap surfaces or areas around it as we combat the virus through the hand washing exercise. A public hand sanitizer dispensing system is also an immediate application of this system. As COVID-19 has spread, so has our fear of surfaces.

To know more on the project visit http://www.ilabafrica.ac.ke/index.php/internet-of-things-research-group/

Training on Online Learning Tools

Over the last few years, @iLabAfrica, a research and incubation center at Strathmore University, has developed capacity in delivering teaching and learning online using web conferencing tools for its students and staff.

This was necessitated by the need to save time for students who are enrolled in @iLabAfrica’s Masters programmes and who wish to utilize a considerable amount of time on their commute between their places of work and Strathmore University to study on the go.

Against this, Strathmore University began making preparations for a possible shut down of educational institutions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centre, through its Digital learning department, spearheaded the training of all lecturers on campus on the use of web conferencing tools in preparation to move the physical classes online and in good time.

The training included in-depth tutorials on how to use Skype for Business for teaching. Beyond the training, @iLabAfrica provided resources on Microsoft Teams as an alternative teaching and collaboration tool. Through this effort more than 300 Strathmore university lecturers were trained and are now delivering classes online despite the partial lock down implemented in Kenya.

Mobile Data Support for Students

Similarly, as the University prepared to move classes online, it became imperative that students would require support in accessing online learning resources. @iLabAfrica leveraged an existing working relationship with a leading Mobile Network Operator to develop a mobile data bundle that would give students access to eLearning resources.

These discussions led to an agreement to develop a monthly data bundle of 10GB charged at KES 500/$5 whose purchase Strathmore University would sponsor on behalf of students.

The data bundle works on selected whitelisted sites such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, strathmore.edu and elearning.strathmore.edu. This way the university ensures that students are able to access all their online classes, as well as resources on the University’s eLearning platform.

Find out more on the project at  www.ilabafrica.ac.ke

“Put your head on my shoulders”, Paul Anka sang to us these words in hopes of spreading love and joy among everyone alike. Nobody is born the same. The women and disabled in this society are often characterized under the same category, ignored for their appearance and norm. Yet, little did people know their potential with the right guidance.

We at Elegant IT Limited provide various digital services and also create opportunities for such disadvantaged people of the society. The cruelty and the demeaning attitude they face are simply unbearable for any human being, and we have taken it upon ourselves to battle this stereotype, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic at hand.

It is the women of our society who we do not look at. They are the building blocks of our livelihood. Men, being the dominant creature in our society, usually ignore a woman’s capabilities even when they are commendable. Over 43% of these skilled women are leaving their jobs for reasons ranging from pregnancy to general insecurity.

The situation is no different for the disabled. In a recent incidence, there was a case of an Australian youth being bullied for the way he looks. These events have led to many calamities and even attempted suicide. In a global perspective, 15% of the world population live a challenged lifestyle.

In Bangladesh, many are also facing the same issues. Due to this lockdown, handicapped people whose only source of income was a small shop, or the maid or garments worker who supported her entire family, may now die out of poverty before the virus. Many make a living even by begging. Today they are jobless due to the nationwide shutdown. They have spent their last saved penny and are now living in abject poverty.

Our organization, Elegant IT Limited, has taken all of this into consideration and decided that it is our time to contribute to the world in the battle against COVID-19 situation. We launched a project focusing on women and the handicapped and have been working on it for the past 3 years, developing the program and increasing workforce. We reach out to people, presenting them with work from home and freelancing opportunities so they can support their families financially. With the current coronavirus situation, this project has boosted its capabilities and is now our major focus. Our organization now provides free online ICT training courses. We are also teaching on the use of the internet, mobile data & mobile technology and its wonders and resources, to such individuals over the COVID-19 period, enabling them to freelance in the real world and put their talents to work.

Stephen Hawking, a genius unlike any, who discovered various secrets of the universe, was a physically challenged person. Taking him as an example, we have pushed through the stereotypes and provided opportunities to these people. Many of these disadvantaged people are now working under the banner of Elegant IT Limited as well.

All of the above initiatives have been taken to reduce the curve and keep people safe from coronavirus. We are proud to say that we have brought smiles to many faces, which is all we are looking for. People can now hire these individuals with the click of a button through our “online job” platform.

When we look around us, we may see a harsh world at first glance, but if we look closely, there is a flower that needs a little sunlight to blossom. We at Elegant IT aim to provide that light so they flourish despite their gender, race or appearance. National and global leaders need to come forward to support small initiatives like ours and to retune their policies and prioritize their goals to ensure human existence.