After experiencing the death of a close relative who had passed away in an accident where emergency responders where slow to take action, Akpe made it his mission to transform emergency response services in Togo.
Together with colleagues from university, Akpe founded SOS System, an SMS-based, rapid response system that allows users to quickly and efficiently get assistance to victims of emergency situations. The platform allows rescuers to geolocate victims of fires, road accidents and manage the situation via a mobile application. The platform can also provide first responders and onlookers with first aid information and advice on how to handle the crisis situation in the absence of qualified authorities. Using QR code technology, the SOS system is also able to provide first responders with a summary of victims’ health records and history so they can administer appropriate care.
Since launching in 2017, the platform has accumulated 100,000 users and processed 1000 emergency cases—averting almost 30 potential deaths.
Akpe is continuing to grow the company’s impact, and hopes to reduce disaster related deaths in Togo by 25% between now and 2020.
