PPEMA: Personal Protective Equipment Mobile Application
Afghanistan | Pakistan | Tajikistan | Kenya | Tanzania | Arabic-speaking Nations
The World Health Organization (WHO) terms excessive information, including false or misleading information, in digital and physical environments as an ‘infodemic,’ According to WHO, an infodemic can potentially intensify or lengthen an outbreak when populations are confused about steps to take to protect their health and the health of people around them.
AKDN dHRC launched the Personal Protective Equipment Mobile Application (PPEMA), an app to help health workers understand the best practices around the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. PPEMA was launched in five countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kenya, and Tanzania to combat unauthentic information regarding PPE use and the lack of knowledge among populations, which causes confusion and risk-taking behaviors among healthcare workers and the public.
The app focuses on the correct usage of and improving knowledge regarding PPE, as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). A review of PPE best practice guidelines and alternative PPE use in resource-constrained environments revealed a lack of knowledge regarding correct usage among target populations.
Overall, the PPEMA aims to educate health care providers and facilitates the safe, sustainable, and effective use of PPE, contributing to the capacity building of health workers. It will also help fight the mistrust in health authorities and uplift public health response.
Since its launch, the app has helped raise awareness among 4,000 health workers.
PPEMA was launched under the COVID-19 Innovations Research Project (CIRP), which aims to conduct research on the effectiveness of three digital health interventions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including the PPEMA.
CIRP is funded by the Government of Canada through the International Development Research Centre and the Aga Khan Foundation.
PPEMA is available for download on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.