Promoting Awareness of Data Confidentiality and Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Low-Income Country-Sierra Leone

Abstract

Objectives: World Health Organization issued Joint Statement on Data Protection and Privacy in the COVID-19 Response stating that collection of vast amounts of personal data may potentially lead to the infringement of fundamental human rights and freedoms. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development called on national governments to adhere to the international principles for data security and confidentiality. This paper describes the methods used to assist the Ministry of Health in bringing awareness of the data ownership, confidentiality and security principles to COVID-19 responders.

Methods: The Sierra Leone Epidemiological Data (SLED) Team data managers conducted training for groups of COVID-19 responders. Training included presentations on data confidentiality, information disclosure, physical and electronic data security, and cyber-security; and interactive discussion of real-life scenarios. A game of Jeopardy was created to test the participant's knowledge.

Results: This paper describes the methods used by the SLED Team to bring awareness of the DOCS principles to more than 2,500 COVID-19 responders.

Conclusion: Similar efforts may benefit other countries where the knowledge, resources, and governing rules for protection of personal data are limited.

Keywords: SLED; Sierra Leone; Sierra Leone Epidemiological Data Team; cybersecurity; data confidentiality; data ownership; data security; training.