COVID-19 Pandemic in Higher Education: Critical Role of Emerging Technologies in Zimbabwe

Mbunge, Elliot; Fashoto, Stephen Gbenga; Akinnuwesi, Boluwaji A.; Gurajena, Caroline; Metfula, Andile Simphiwe; Mashwama, Petros

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3743246

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…After WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care adopted several measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak after the government declared COVID-19 a national disaster on 19 March 2020 to curb transmission and reducing the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on both population and the already overburdened health system [11] . These measures include social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine of returnees from other countries, face masking, banning of all public gatherings and sporting fixtures, dusk-to-dawn curfew, closure of non-essential business, stay-at-home, regular temperature checking and testing [12] . As of 30 January 2021, Zimbabwe recorded 32,952 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 24,872 recoveries and 1,178 deaths [13] .…”

Section: Covid-19 Situation Analysis and Social Distancing Tools In Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

Framework for ethical and acceptable use of social distancing tools and smart devices during COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Mbunge

Millham

Sibiya

et al. 2021

Sustainable Operations and Computers

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Despite the successful development of vaccines, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to present unprecedented challenges. Besides the ongoing vaccination activities, many countries still rely on measures including social distancing, contact tracing, mandatory face masking among others. Several digital technologies such as smart devices, social distancing tools, smart applications have been adopted to enhance public adherence to reduce secondary transmission. Such technologies use health data, symptoms monitoring, mobility, location and proximity data for contact tracing, self-isolation and quarantine compliance. The use of digital technologies has been debatable and contentious because of the potential violation of ethical values such as security and privacy, data format and management, synchronization, over-tracking, over-surveillance and lack of proper development and implementation guidelines which subsequently impact their efficacy and adoption. Also, the aggressive and mandatory use of large-scale digital technologies is not easy to implement, adhere to and subsequently difficult to practice which ultimately lead to imperfect public compliance. To alleviate these impediments, we analysed the available literature and propose an ethical framework for the use of digital technologies centred on ethical practices. The proposed framework highlights the trade-offs, potential roles and coordination of different stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of digital technologies, from various social and political contexts in Zimbabwe. We suggest that transparency, regular engagement and participation of potential users are likely to boost public trust. However, the potential violation of ethical values, poor communication, hasty implementation of digital technologies will likely undermine public trust, and as such, risk their adoption and efficacy.

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Section: Covid-19 Situation Analysis and Social Distancing Tools In Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

Framework for ethical and acceptable use of social distancing tools and smart devices during COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Mbunge

Millham

Sibiya

et al. 2021

Sustainable Operations and Computers

Self Cite

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“…Two have been fully implemented, one has been piloted, and the remaining two are still in the planning stages (Table I). Delays in the implementation of some of the curricula have been caused by COVID-19, which significantly interrupted teaching and learning in Zimbabwe (Mbunge et al, 2020). Challenges were encountered concerning the implementation of the oncology pharmacy curriculum.…”

Section: Impact On Pharmacy Education Interprofessional Education And...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of collaborative health education and leadership programme on pharmacy education in Zimbabwe

et al. 2022

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To ameliorate the impact of brain drain on quality of education at the University of Zimbabwe, the Health Education Advanced Leadership in Zimbabwe (HEALZ) programme was implemented in 2012. The authors present a retrospective narrative review of the pharmacy educators’ activities under the programme, and the impact on pharmacy education. Five pharmacy educators were enrolled into the one-year programme between 2016 and 2020. The programme consisted of three intensive one-week face-to-face sessions focused on health professions education. In between the sessions, the educators conducted needs’ assessments to establish gaps in pharmacy training and developed curricula in the areas of herbal medicine, snakebites, drug-herb interactions, oncology, and health economics. Thereafter, they delivered seven conference abstracts and nine continuing professional development training sessions. The pharmacy educators are now working on transferring the HEALZ programme to the two new pharmacy training institutions, to strengthen the pharmacy education workforce across the country.

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“…After WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care adopted several measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak after the government declared COVID-19 a national disaster on 19 March 2020 to curb transmission and reducing the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on both population and the already overburdened health system (Nhapi & Dhemba, 2020). These measures include social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine of returnees from other countries, face masking (Chitungo et al, 2021), banning of all public gatherings and sporting fixtures, dusk-to-dawn curfew, closure of nonessential business, stay-at-home, regular temperature checking and testing (Mbunge, Fashoto, Akinnuwesi, Gurajena, Metfula, & Mashwama, 2020) among others. Like many countries in Africa, Zimbabwe has an under-resourced healthcare system, high unemployment, densely populated urban areas and shortages of basic commodities (Mackworth-Young et al, 2021), which make lockdowns difficult to adhere to and enforce.…”

Section: Covid-19 Situation Analysis In Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

Ethics for integrating emerging technologies to contain COVID ‐19 in Zimbabwe

Mbunge

Fashoto

Akinnuwesi

et al. 2021

Human Behav and Emerg Tech

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Zimbabwe is among the countries affected with the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and implemented several infection control and measures such as social distancing, contact tracing, regular temperature checking in strategic entry and exit points, face masking among others. The country also implemented recursive national lockdowns and curfews to reduce the virus transmission rate and its catastrophic impact. These large‐scale measures are not easy to implement, adhere to and subsequently difficult to practice and maintain which lead to imperfect public compliance, especially if there is a significant impact on social and political norms, economy, and psychological wellbeing of the affected population. Also, emerging COVID‐19 variants, porous borders, regular movement of informal traders and sale of fake vaccination certificates continue to threaten impressive progress made towards virus containment. Therefore, several emerging technologies have been adopted to strengthen the health system and health services delivery, improve compliance, adherence and maintain social distancing. These technologies use health data, symptoms monitoring, mobility, location and proximity data for contact tracing, self‐isolation, and quarantine compliance. However, the use of emerging technologies has been debatable and contentious because of the potential violation of ethical values such as security and privacy, data format and management, synchronization, over‐tracking, over‐surveillance and lack of proper development and implementation guidelines which impact their efficacy, adoption and ultimately influence public trust. Therefore, the study proposes ethical framework for using emerging technologies to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic. The framework is centered on ethical practices such as security, privacy, justice, human dignity, autonomy, solidarity, beneficence, and non‐maleficence.

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COVID-19 Pandemic in Higher Education: Critical Role of Emerging Technologies in Zimbabwe

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Framework for ethical and acceptable use of social distancing tools and smart devices during COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Framework for ethical and acceptable use of social distancing tools and smart devices during COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Impact of collaborative health education and leadership programme on pharmacy education in Zimbabwe

Ethics for integrating emerging technologies to contain COVID ‐19 in Zimbabwe

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