Using big data as a force for good in Colombia
One of the ways in which mobile companies can support a child’s right to life, survival and development is by helping to reduce the risk of disease and preparing for health emergencies. In Colombia, Telefónica is part of an innovative programme that uses big data for epidemic forecasting.
The programme brings together UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, the National Health Institute, Telefónica and academic collaborators from the University of Notre Dame and Boston Children’s Hospital. Computer simulations provide real-time data on reported cases of disease, such as Dengue and Zika, as well as people’s movements across Colombia.
With this data, forecasts on the risk of vector-borne disease incidence and spread in Colombian municipalities are generated, which the government can use to make faster decisions for epidemic preparedness and response. Using anonymised and aggregated data from mobile phone records to track human mobility and create risk maps for the spread of disease is becoming crucial in the fight against epidemics.
