COVID-19 & an NGO and university developed interactive portal: a perspective from Iran

Abstract

On 19 February 2020, Iran reported the initial cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). As of 21 March 2020, Iran had reported 175,927 COVID-19 cases, including 8425 deaths. One of the best approaches for responding to COVID-19 is rapid detection, early isolation, and quick treatment of the disease. Studies have stated that information technology (IT) is a powerful tool for detecting, tracking, and responding to pandemic diseases. Despite the importance of IT, a lack of efficient use of information technology capacity was observed after the emergence of the new cases of COVID-19 in Iran. A web-portal can integrate different services and technologies and can support interaction between non-governmental organizations (NGO) and universities. NGOs can provide services for public health utilizing technology and its advancements. One of the important duties of these organizations is to inform and provide integrated services to the general public. An interactive portal is one of the advanced technologies that these organizations can use for health management. Medical sciences of universities play a vital surveillance role for enhancing the performance quality of NGOs. A web-portal can be a collaboration tool between health-related NGOs and medical sciences of universities. In this study, an interactive portal was developed by NGOs and a university. NGOs under the supervision and participation of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences' Center for Social Factors Research in COVID-19 management division of this portal separated classified information into two sections, informatics and services. This portal is accessible to the general public, patients, service providers, and, importantly, policymakers and presents educational and medical research information to all users. For patients and the general public in high-risk environments, increasing information security, reducing confusion regarding finding needed information, and facilitating communication are only part of the portal's benefit. It seems that web-portal capacity is needed to control COVID-19 in the digital age. The collaboration of academic and university bodies in the context of health portals can play key roles for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attitude of People towards Non-Government Organizations Intervention with Reference to Health Awareness: A Post Crisis Analysis in Swat-Pakistan

“…The NGOs and civil society's network have done the greater job for worldwide tobacco control policies at the international level and to implement these policies at the local level (Mindell, 2002). CSOs have intervened in international policies associated with women's health, tobacco control, humanitarian aid, pharmaceuticals and right of entry to treatment for HIV/AIDS, dengue, COVID-19, food value and security (Randell et al, 1997;Dodgson, Dodgson et al, 2002;Rose et al, 2018;and Maserat et al, 2020).…”

“…In2002, the USAID people, nutrition and health funding cover family planning/reproductive h e a l t h , HIV/AIDS and communicable disease (USAID, 2002).70% of medical services are provided by the private sector; various NGOs have done an important job to regarding the awareness of HIV/AIDS (causes and effects) (NAPPCNCD, 2004). The numbers of HIV/AIDS patients have been increasing day by day and has reached the disaster and pandemic level these days, ultimately looking for NGO intervention to control such kind of communicable life threatening diseases (Tibinyane, 1990;& Maserat et al, 2020).…”

E-health roadmap for COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Iran

“…and there is 2,237,000 affected cases and 66,732 deaths in Iran [9] The first confirmed case of coronavirus infection observed in Iran on 19 February 2020. Then the virus spread rapidly throughout the country and affected many people [10]. Iran is one of the countries with the highest rate of corona virus with 2,237,000 affected cases and 66,732 deaths [9].…”

“…Technological innovations lead to timely access to information and facilitate communication. However, the vaccination schedule is complex, but Information technology can be used in various areas of COIVD-19 management, such as prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up [10,21,22]. Because of its prevalence, influence and flexibility, technology provides promising tools to overcome vaccination barriers in all levels including families, health care providers and the broader community.…”

People Perception Towards the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Provision of Health Facilities: Pragmatic Facts from Swat-Pakistan

“…The majority of the local and international NGOs are working for the welfare of deprived people in close connection with the community people (Miller, 2000). The NGOs are engaged in fundraising for health-related services, providing health awareness and public education, provision of food items for need and poor families and focusing on controlling communicable diseases, including COVID-19 (Maserat et al, 2020) In a developed society like in western countries, NGOs are considered as an organization that working for the provision of access to human rights and community development, while in developing countries it means nonprofit organizations working for the welfare of the marginalized community and worked for basic human rights including food, shelter, and education etc. (Lewis, 1999;Rose et al, 2018).…”