In the backdrop of expanding Israel-Africa relations in recent years, Israeli organizations and startups are working to help countries on the African continent fight the coronavirus.
Magen David Adom emergency services recently created software for managing a drive through coronavirus testing facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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MDA's drive-through centers, which have been operating since the beginning of the spread of the coronavirus in Israel, have tested more than 120,000 Israelis. These drive-through centers have also sparked interest from the DRC's Honorary Consul in Israel, resulting in similar centers throughout the central African country, as well as a training program with videos and written procedures that have been passed from MDA to medical professionals who operate in the DRC.
"During the long period in which we operated the many drive-through sampling facilities, the technology we used proved itself, along with the effective and safe practices that enabled the safety of [both] the possibly infected and the teams," said MDA Chief Information Officer Ido Rosenblat. "From the moment they contacted us, we were ready to help during this difficult time to set up the drive-through sampling facilities in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to share our knowledge."
According to Director General Eli Bin, MDA's medical capabilities, technologies, and methods are among the most advanced in the world. "In the light of the fight against coronavirus, we have gained extensive experience in obtaining thousands of samples a day, efficiently and safely, and now we are happy to share knowledge with other medical entities around the world for the sake of saving human lives."
To date, the DRC has 4,778 known cases of coronavirus, with 107 deaths and 600 recovered patients. With cases spreading quickly, the test centers will be vital in order to confirm carriers and thereby preventing further spread of the virus.
"MDA's professionalism and technology have a reputation around the world," said its International Relations Coordinator Uriel Goldberg. During the outbreak of the coronavirus, "countries and people searching for solutions found us."
After training medical staff in the DRC via Zoom on how to set up the system, the country now has four permanent and 90-plus mobile testing sites using MDA's software that can manage and extract data in order to map all those infected with COVID-19. The software also has an interface for the labs, allowing users to book appointments for the drive-through and the ability to fill out an epidemiology questionnaire.
Goldberg noted that MDA, as Israel's Red Cross National Society, wants to assist numerous countries around the world. "Israel has very innovative and practical tech and medical solutions for a variety of issues, including coronavirus. MDA is committed to helping African and developing countries."
Even before the virus, MDA helped the Kenya Red Cross to set up an ambulance service, write protocols and train paramedics, who came to Israel for eight months, Goldberg added.
The organization is also known to send personnel and disaster relief, most recently to Haiti, Turkey, Egypt and Nepal. "MDA receives requests for help and advice all of the time; we are always prepared to help and advise any country that requests it," he said.
"MDA's motto is "he who saves a life, it is as if he has saved an entire world," he added. "We feel that it is our duty for us to help save lives wherever and however we can."
'Harness Israel's technical expertise in development and security'
Jerusalem-based Start-Up Nation Central similarly assists Israeli companies that want to penetrate into African markets with the goal of strengthening their ecosystems. Vered Mivtzari, Country Relations Director of Africa and India for Start-Up Nation Central, helps match African challenges with Israeli technology solutions.
"COVID-19 brought with it even more local needs in Africa, and African countries needed much help in dealing with food delivery, medical care and response, and providing basic needs to vulnerable populations such as refugees and the elderly while maintaining social distancing and high standards of hygiene," she said.
"Some of the Israeli solutions we are working to promote are Beecardia, a cloud platform for cardiology and pulmonology mobile health; Tyto Care, which provides remote examination and consultation with a physician; and Sight Diagnostics, an advanced blood-diagnostics platform," explained Mivtzari.
"Several Israeli tech companies went above and beyond to advance countries around the world, offering their technologies in open source around the world, including in Africa," she continued. These technologies includes AmboVent, an emergency ventilation device; Growponics, a manual respiratory balloon tech; and Diagnostic Robotics, an AI diagnostic system for health-care insurers, providers and patients that helps authorities locate potential COVID-19 patients.
Israel's exporting of technology to Africa occurs in the context of increased relations in recent years Israel now has diplomatic relations with 41 out of 44 Sub-Saharan African states, including a number of Muslim-majority ones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made several visits to Africa in recent years, most recently to Uganda in February 2020. Jerusalem has also hosted presidents and prime ministers in recent years from Chad, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Togo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone and Swaziland.
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As Netanyahu said in 2016 after stepping off the plane in Entebbe, Uganda (40 years after his older brother, Yoni Netanyahu, was killed in the Israeli military rescue operation that saved the lives of 102 airline passengers hijacked and held at the Entebbe airport by terrorists), "Israel is coming back to Africa, and Africa is coming back to Israel."
According to Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, "in formulating ties with Africa, Israel has largely been motivated by altruism; the drive to circumvent boycotts that were designed to isolate it; efforts to combat external and internal threats to security; construction and consolidation of alliances that reinforce ideals and values; and the attempt to enhance its position as an important actor in the international system."
Additionally, posed INSS, "Israel's African allies have sought to consolidate their cultural connections with the Jewish state and harness Israel's technical expertise in the spheres of development and security."
During the time of the coronavirus, Israel has certainly heeded the advice of INSS: "To further strengthen these relations, Israel should focus on technical development assistance. The soft-power approach to bilateral relations is the key to winning the hearts and minds of Africa."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
