AN URGENT NEED TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL SKILLS DIVIDE AMID THE PANDEMIC

Recent events of new Covid-19 outbreaks across the region are reminding us that there is still a long road ahead of us before life could return to a semblance of normalcy, and that the coronavirus’ impact is hitting the developing and least developed world especially hard, worsening the economic and social gap.

- NI XINGJUN

Earlier this year, McKinsey predicted that the end of the pandemic is in sight for some parts of the world, especially developed countries where vaccines are becoming more easily available. Since then, the outbreak has worsened dramatically as developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America report rises in Covid-19 cases and deaths. Meanwhile, Malaysia continues to see a resurgence and increase in daily cases, the country is undergoing its third total lockdown in its efforts to contain and combat the coronavirus.

For many of the developing and least developed countries, the resulting delay in returning to normal will have serious knock-on effects on businesses, mental health, and education, and elevates the need to push forward the urgency of bringing a more inclusive and equal world. An effective way to achieve this is through the innovative application of digital technology.

Locally, digital tools such as the MySejahtera app – developed by the government of Malaysia – has been instrumental in assisting the country in managing the Covid-19 outbreaks, enabling contact tracing, allowing users to perform health self-assessment on themselves and their families, and also monitoring their health progress throughout the pandemic.