RCSDC Hands Over Behavioural Intelligence System to The Gambia to Improve Disease Response
The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) has officially handed over a Behavioural Intelligence and Infodemic Management (BIIM) System to The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, in a move aimed at strengthening public health emergency preparedness and response in West Africa.
The digital system is designed to help health authorities collect and analyse real-time information on public concerns, rumours, misinformation, and community feedback during health emergencies.
The BIIM platform combines social listening, community engagement data, and health service feedback to support evidence-based decision-making and improve communication between health authorities and communities.
Representing the ECOWAS RCSDC, Dr Imaobong Udo Isang described the handover as an important step towards strengthening health security across the region.
Dr Isang said the system will help ECOWAS member states make timely decisions based on community information and improve responses to public health threats.
Receiving the system on behalf of The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, Director of Health Promotion and Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Michael Manga Mendy, welcomed the initiative.
Mr Mendy said the BIIM System will improve the country’s ability to understand community concerns, strengthen public trust, and support effective health communication during emergencies.
The technical mission was led by Patrick Lansana, Programme Manager for Health Promotion and Risk Communication and Community Engagement at Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA).
Mr Lansana highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and knowledge sharing among ECOWAS member states.
He said Sierra Leone was pleased to share its experience with The Gambia, adding that the deployment of the system demonstrates the value of collaboration and peer learning in strengthening public health systems.
The handover followed a technical process that included system configuration, dashboard customisation, testing, development of standard operating procedures, field piloting, and training of national and regional teams.
With the introduction of the BIIM System, The Gambia joins Sierra Leone and other ECOWAS countries working to integrate behavioural intelligence and infodemic management into public health emergency preparedness and response.