Part 6/11:
Recognizing that tools alone are insufficient, the Sentinel initiative emphasizes the importance of human capacity. Over the past five years, more than a thousand healthcare workers across West Africa have been trained to identify both known and unknown pathogens, connect their findings with public health authorities, and coordinate responses at local, national, continental, and global levels.
The Power of Community and Technology
A key component of this effort involves developing mobile applications tailored for community health workers. These apps facilitate real-time data sharing, enabling swift action and coordinated responses. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst, accelerating the development and deployment of these digital tools.