The security and medical assistance contractor International SOS has released a new mobile app, to help share its medical and travel information on Ebola. The free app is now available on iOS and Android devices. It will provide online access to key sections from the company’s dedicated Ebola website.
Doug Quarry, Medical Director for Information & Analysis at International SOS said: “The ongoing Ebola outbreak has become a global health emergency where rapid communication of advice and information is absolutely critical. We know people want up-to-date, accurate information as quickly as possible. They want it from a trusted source. And in today’s multimedia world they want it in their hands wherever they are. We designed this app to try and help meet that demand.”
App features:
• news and developments on the Ebola outbreak
• Maps of affected areas
• sections for offline viewing
• Content automatically updated
• Video: Ebola – What business travellers need to know
• Push notifications send key information to phones
• Live International SOS twitter feed.
The contractor says that organisations in west Africa and beyond are using the firm’s educational material, which has so far been translated into 21 local languages. Public awareness broadcasts are available and the app includes access to the video: ‘Ebola – What business travellers need to know’.
That dedicated Ebola website removed the firm’s normal requirement for membership access. This site has around 10,000 visitors a day.
Dr Quarry added: “Every day we continue to get new calls from our members who have questions on Ebola. These might be calls from organisations with operations in West Africa, or from employees sitting at their desk in Europe. These members can get the latest, updated information from us alongside easy access to the key facts. And with our freely available website and now the new Ebola app, the wider public can access this expertise too.”
AboutInternational SOS (www.internationalsos.com)
A medical and travel security risk services company, it works from more than 700 locations in 89 countries. More than 11,000 employees are led by 1,200 doctors and 200 security specialists. Clients are multinational corporates, governments and NGOs, typically to mitigate risks for their people working remotely or overseas. Work has ranged from the Ebola outbreak to evacuation from Libya during the civil war.
