COVID-19, CREATIVE-INNOVATION, IDENTITY

WHO has put in place many measures (Social distancing, and the wearing of facemask etc.),to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. 

These solutions have created another major problem because in no time countries will face the problem of identifying their Citizens especially the Vulnerable and Marginalized.

For a proposed Solution, Countries should develop an easy to use application whereby:

-Citizens (Literate), who have access to internet, smart phones/laptops can go on-line for self-identification.

-Citizens (illiterates), be identified with the help of well-trained workers. While maintaining social distancing and wearing of mask etc. Identification centers created with high-level sensitization at every community level.

-In areas without Internet, workers should use questionnaires to collect data for identification.  

My proposed solution will ensure that every citizen (vulnerable and marginalized) gets identified, while still maintaining the preventive measures put in place by WHO to prevent the further spread of COVID-19   

Access to identification/registration by countries for their citizens especially the vulnerable and marginalized is becoming a global problem. Recent statistics, as of the August 15, 2020, from the WHO Corona-virus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, globally shows that there are 21,026,758 confirmed cases, 755,786 deaths and 294,237 new cases. This statistics shows that the level of infection and spread of the corona-virus is increasing at an alarming rate therefore becoming a global threat to the very existence of humanity.

The Corona-virus pandemic is a global problem as no human is free be it the rich, the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized. Its impact globally is very huge and if the spread continuous to rise, the future will become very uncertain, as many countries will find it almost impossible to provide effective identification/registration for their citizens especially the Vulnerable and the marginalized ones, if lasting solutions are not provided.

Solving the problem of identification faced by most countries globally, there is need to first identify the root course of the problem (COVID-19). Therefore, solving the pandemic means solving the problem of identification globally. Using my proposed solutions will contribute in getting more people identified/registered while preventing the spread of the corona-virus.  

My solution can be implemented globally to serve any community, but our target has been to serve local communities especially the internally displaced persons (IDP’s) and refugees who are also victims to the Corona Virus. They have lost their identifications due to the ongoing war in the conflict hit North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.

We have been working hand-in-glove with IDP’s assisting them and with outbreak of the pandemic has made the situation worsen, as there is need for more face-mask, hand sanitizers to be shared with effective sensitization so to prevent more people from contracting the virus. Most of the IDP’s have lost their identification, so interacting with them means understanding their problems and understanding their problems means knowing their needs, knowing their needs, help us better understand how to develop our solutions so to suit these needs.

The development of the application will help IDP’s and refugees regain their identity in the shortest time possible, which was lost. Therefore, both literate and illiterates will have equal opportunities of identification. People found in areas (bushes) with no internet connection still will have the opportunity to go through the process of identification.

As rightly quoted, the World Bank’s Mission Billion Global Prize is out to seek solutions to ensure the inclusive of ID systems for marginalized and vulnerable groups while taking into cognizant the social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, with the selected dimension, that getting an ID often requires in-person registration and/or identity proofing which may not be safe in the near future due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The identified problem, solution and target population explained is well-aligned with the challenge and selected dimension because Countries need to ensure their citizens safety and easy identification access.