Nouakchott – HumanCoop has announced that it has chosen Identy.io’s “Biometric Solutions” to improve the living conditions of thousands of patients, who lack identity or nationality, in North Africa.
This lack of identification prevents the issuance of official documents that could certify their identities, thereby hindering the creation of medical records needed for effective treatment traceability.
Founded in 2020, HumanCoop operates in northern Mauritania, employing a team of healthcare professionals and technical experts who deliver both primary and specialised medical care through missions in the region.
Their efforts benefit more than 2 500 people.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, North Africa and the Middle East are home to a significant number of displaced persons and individuals lacking identity or nationality.
More than 350 000 people do not have any form of documentation that proves their identity, which severely impedes the creation of medical records necessary for monitoring and tracing their treatments.
Identy.io will provide HumanCoop with facial biometric identity verification solutions.
This technology will facilitate the unique identification of each patient, even in the absence of documentation, leading to faster access to medical records and reducing the likelihood of duplicate registrations among undocumented patients.
To tackle the challenge, HumanCoop, a non-governmental organisation made up of volunteers that provide primary and specialised healthcare services in North Africa, has partnered with Identy.io, a company that specialises in identity verification through contactless mobile biometrics and the creation of digital credentials.
As part of this agreement, Identy.io will provide HumanCoop with access to its facial biometric identity verification solutions for use in the field.
Identy.io’s technology operates entirely offline, processing biometric data directly on the device without needing an internet connection or cloud storage.
This capability is crucial for functioning in remote areas of the Sahara Desert and for ensuring the privacy of vulnerable populations.
According to Jesús Aragón, the CEO of Identy.io, “We believe that biometrics is becoming a global security standard, enabling collaboration on significant issues beyond just fraud or identity theft prevention.
“Working with organisations like HumanCoop gives purpose to our efforts to develop technological solutions that support underserved communities.
“We take pride in contributing to the improvement of living conditions for thousands of people in North Africa and are grateful to HumanCoop for their trust in our company.”
Ignacio Calatayud, the President of HumanCoop, adds: “At our organisation, people have always been our top priority.
“Since our founding, we have focused on reaching places that others do not, using our medical knowledge and experience to enhance healthcare conditions in disadvantaged communities across the Maghreb.
“Thanks to our collaboration with Identy.io, we can now operate more efficiently and tailor treatments more effectively to each patient’s medical history.
“In doing so, we hope to strengthen trust in the healthcare system, provide better care, improve follow-up, and ultimately cultivate a more protected community.”
