AI4PEP Ethiopia’s PolioAntenna Workshop Showcases AI-Driven Surveillance Innovations
The PolioAntenna Advocacy and Orientation Workshop brought together key stakeholders in the fight against polio to enhance their understanding of the innovative PolioAntenna app and its role in Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance. Polio, short for Poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children leading to permanent limb paralysis and even death. The virus spreads through contaminated water and food, or contact with an infected person. Ethiopia is making significant strides towards becoming polio-free. However, the country still faces challenges due to recent cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
The workshop aimed to empower healthcare professionals, public health officials, and community leaders with the tools and knowledge necessary to leverage the app effectively in their efforts to track and respond to polio cases.
During the event, participants were introduced to the PolioAntenna app’s key functionalities, including its real-time data collection, AI-driven analytics, and alert system, which have proven to streamline AFP case reporting and improve response times. The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to engage in hands-on training and discussions about how to integrate the app into existing surveillance systems, ensuring more effective early detection of AFP.
One of the main objectives of the workshop was to build strong advocacy for the PolioAntenna app within local communities, ensuring that all stakeholders understand its potential impact and are fully equipped to use it to its full capacity. Attendees left the workshop with a renewed sense of commitment to polio eradication efforts and a greater appreciation for the role that technology can play in improving public health outcomes.
With the success of this workshop, the PolioAntenna initiative is taking significant steps towards strengthening its surveillance network, and ensuring that polio eradication remains a priority on the global health agenda.