Institutional Support for VODAN-Africa
Our healthcare providers and principal caregivers are the first line of defense against these viruses and I salute them. Beyond this however, we need to help them. And one way we can help them is to make sure that they have access to data on the Virus outbreak. This is one of the major reasons why I have volunteered my support for the Virus Outbreak Data (Africa) Network (VODAN-Africa) project. Science is one thing that will help us in this fight against COVID-19 and prepare the world for any future outbreaks; the science of data, FAIR data, which is what the VODAN-Africa is working to achieve by creating Fair Data Points in many African Countries.
Her Excellency, Julia Duncan Cassell: Former Honourable Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection, The Republic of Liberia
Ethiopia is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Tigray region which is one of the country's nine regional state is also accelerating its response to the pandemic. For this data is critical. I fully endorse the Virus Outbreak Data Africa Network. WE need solid and reliable data that can be analyzed by our scientists with scientists globally... "
Hagos Godefay Debeb: Bureau Head, Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Ethiopia
Uganda is learning from the strategies that worked elsewhere to optimize the approach to protect people from COVID infection. Science will help us and our universities are helping the government. Data are critical. I have asked universities to build the Uganda national COVID FAIR Data-point. This will be the first FAIR Data-point in which Data held in Uganda can be analysed with scientists globally. This Data is ours, they will stay in our country, and those who visit our data will do so according to the laws and regulations in our country. This is the backbone of our knowledge that will help us navigate this crisis."
Dr. Diana Atwine: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health -Uganda
“Our success depends on our ability to reach out globally. We are excited that Africa is included, and we will make efforts to ensure the entire continent will be linked up. This is an important contribution to stop this and future pandemics.”
Prof. Barend Mons: Director, GO FAIR International support and coordination office.
The initiative is supported by the Philips Foundation, whose mission is to provide access to care for underserved communities. “With this donation, the Philips Foundation supports the establishment of a Virus Outbreak Data Network (VODAN), to ensure that data-intelligence is available to support an effective response to the new corona virus”
Margot Cooijmans: Director of the Philips Foundation
“There is a fear for undetected spreading on the African continent which may lead to a sudden crisis. To help avoid this, both prevention and containment are critical. As one of the leading universities with a large medical campus and university hospital, we are committed to lead the initiative to build adequate capacity. We have already deployed ten computer- and data scientists to work with our medical experts. As an international university with students from 42 countries, we are committed to make sure that all our efforts strengthen the global fight of the corona virus.”
Dr. Mohammed Mpezamihigo: Vice-Chancellor, Kampala International University
