Ebola: Real-time data to tackle the crisis

Innovation Unit of UNICEF is creating an Ebola response plan based on real-time data.

"Real-time data can immediately shed light on what works and what doesn't and ... we can act immediately," says Christopher Fabian, the co-leader and co-creator of the Innovation Unit.

The unit is working on new technologies mostly based on mobile phones and focused on young people to provide the response.

"U-Report is a way to engage young people in getting and providing information about Ebola or about other health needs they might have," the senior UNICEF official said on the free SMS-based system.

World Health Organization has reported 15,351 Ebola cases in eight countries since its outbreak, with 5,459 reported deaths