WINNIPEG (CityNews) – Canadian researchers have developed a brand new app that’s designed to assist Indigenous communities around the globe with their COVID-19 pandemic response.
The “COVID-19 Indigenous” app was created on the College of Manitoba in partnership with Indigenous leaders. It’s thought-about the primary of its sort.
Evan Chamakese, the group outreach coordinator with the “COVID-19 Indigenous” mission, says the app will enable communities to doc impacts and responses to the pandemic in actual time. He says communities may have full management of their very own knowledge.
“What we have now been listening to over the previous a number of months is that First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities face obstacles from accessing their very own well being knowledge,” stated Chamakese. “So what this mission does is it should allow them to gather their very own knowledge and reply to any impacts, lowering reliance on any exterior businesses of governments.
“And it’ll additionally assist communities monitor modifications for the well being and well-being of its members.”
The app is obtainable for each Apple and Android customers and particularly designed for Indigenous communities in Canada.
Dr. Myrle Ballard, a College of Manitoba professor with the division of chemistry, says Indigenous communities have been hit notably exhausting by the pandemic and that this app might show to be a sport changer.
“When First Nations individuals want their knowledge, they should depend on exterior knowledge sources, and this can be a likelihood for First Nations individuals to catch their very own knowledge,” stated Ballard. “And it’s proper there for them after they should evaluate their stats.”
The knowledge collected by way of the questionnaires on the app is anticipated to assist well being administrators and leaders in rolling out related packages for Indigenous communities, together with inoculation.
“What this app will do by way of the questionnaires and surveys is give them their voice, which well being administrators can use to move on to management and elders and hopefully they will reply and higher serve their members,” stated Chamakese.
Ballard says that is additionally a brand new means for group members to remain linked whereas staying secure.
“Folks like to speak to 1 one other and with the pandemic we are able to’t actually go to with each other,” she stated. “And I feel this can be a means for First Nations individuals to seize their emotions through the use of the app and share their emotions.”
The official launch for the app will happen through Zoom on Feb. 18.
