COVID-19 & Network of Non-Governmental Organizations in Iran
Elham Maserat*1, Fereshteh Jafari2, Zeinab Mohammadzadeh 3, Mahasti Alizadeh 4, Anna Torkamania5
1-Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran .
2- Biomedical & Environmental Health, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Health and Life Sciences Faculty, DMU, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
3 -Health Information Technology Department, School of Management & Medical informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran .
4 -Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
5- Student Research Committee, School of Management & Medical informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Citation: Maserat E, Jafari F, Mohammadzadeh Z, Alizadeh M, Torkamania A (2021) COVID-19 & Network of Non-Governmental Organizations in Iran. SciTech Central COVID-19
Received: July 26, 2021 Accepted: August 07, 2021 Published: August 09, 2021
Abstract
One of the best approaches for responding to COVID-19 is rapid detection, early isolation, and quick treatment of the disease. Studies have stated that information technology is a powerful tool for detecting, tracking, and responding to pandemic diseases. Despite the importance of IT, a lack of efficient use of information technology capacity was observed after the emergence of the new cases of COVID-19 in Iran. A web- network can integrate different services and technologies and can support interaction between non-governmental organizations (NGO) and universities. NGOs can provide services for public health utilizing technology and its advancements. One of the important duties of these organizations is to inform and provide integrated services to the general public. An interactive network is one of the advanced technologies that these organizations can use for health management. Medical sciences of universities play a vital surveillance role for enhancing the performance quality of NGOs. A web- network can be a collaboration tool between health-related NGOs and medical sciences of universities. In this study, an interactive network was developed by NGOs and a university. NGOs under the supervision and participation of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences’ Center for Social Factors Research in COVID-19 management division of this network separated classified information into two sections, informatics and services. This network is accessible to the general public, patients, service providers, and, importantly, policymakers and presents educational and medical research information to all users. For patients and the general public in high-risk environments, increasing information security, reducing confusion regarding finding needed information, and facilitating communication are only part of the network’s benefit. It seems that web- network capacity is needed to control COVID-19 in the digital age. The collaboration of academic and university bodies in the context of health networks can play key roles for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19 , Information technology , Network, NGO , University
