The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) launched a COVID-19 information hub aimed at generating and displaying timely accurate population and infrastructure data that supports the Government’s response and prevention measures. The COVID-19 information hub is jointly spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Global Partner for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) and GRID3 to put real-time COVID-19 and health data at the fingertips of decision-makers and the general public to help in the fight against the spread of the virus. Speaking at the launch here on Thursday, NSA Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer Alex Shimuafeni said in efforts to make crucial geospatial data available universally, findings are openly accessible on the hub which allows for easy interaction and interpretation for experts and users to the field of data. He noted that the hub also visualises health risks such as diabetes and heart disease by region, comparative COVID-19 risk and general demographics and ensure that Namibians are protected from COVID-19 and further strengthen the country’s health system. “COVID-19 will be here for at least a while. The battle from here onwards will be to navigate the economic and social hardships that come with COVID-19, let us use the information hub to its maximum capabilities and most importantly we should hold hands in striving to find the best possible solution for Namibia,” he said. Speaking at the same event GRID3 country lead for Namibia, Justine Dowden said the goal of the COVID-19 information hub is to facilitate data-based solutions that can alleviate the pandemic and contribute to strengthening health systems in the medium and long term. “We all together must ensure the most effective use of data to continue to swiftly control the pandemic while providing transparent and high-quality information to all Namibians,” she said. -NAMPA