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Issue In government-owned healthcare facilities in western Kenya, it is common for medications to be out of stock. As a result, patients have to resort to the private sector for their medications, which are more expensive, less accessible and often of unknown quality. Solution Implemented in Kenya, the project sought to improve access to quality …access to pharmaceuticals, AMPATH partnered with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to implement a Revolving Fund Pharmacy (RFP) at each health facility. These pharmacies act as a back-up and provide medication to patients only when they are out of stock at the MOH pharmacy. Patient co-pays are slightly higher than government co-pays, but substantially lower…

Issue A number of factors contribute to unhealthy eating habits of many of those on a low income in Medellin, Columbia. These include a lack of accessibility to affordable, nutritious food, excessive consumption of fried foods (often in overused oil), consumption of processed food that is high in additives, sugar or salt, and a low…would change their unhealthy eating habits if presented with healthy and affordable alternatives. The main activities completed during the project included: ·   Creation of a training centre for low-income culinary social entrepreneurs, with functioning kitchen and public space where project participants learn and sell ·   Testing and standardization of five salt- and sugar-free base sauces…

Issue Breast cancer kills approximately 500,000 women every year, with almost 58% of these deaths in developing countries. The current gold standard for breast cancer detection is based on fragile, x-ray-based imaging systems that require highly trained personnel to carry out the procedure and to interpret the results. Solution The main goal of this project was to use quantum physics and cell phone technology to develop a portable breast cancer detection system prototype that could be used in remote communities by people with minimal or no technical training. The team designed and assembled the enclosure and mechanical components of the portable breast cancer detection system. This system is designed to illuminate the breast using microwave signals, with a…

Issue According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 25% of the world’s food crops are affected by mycotoxins, and countries near the equator – in particular in sub-Saharan Africa – are most at risk. Mycotoxins (including aflatoxin B, DON, ochratoxin A and others caused by molds in maize) are responsible for significant health problems in people and livestock. Solution The project sought to develop a wireless biosensor network to detect mycotoxins in maize harvesting, storage and transportation, based on…

Issue In Vietnam, the flow of migrants from rural areas increased from 1.3 million in 1989 to 3.4 million in 2009, and may top 6 million by 2019. Many of these migrants are poor and live in unstable environments, putting them at higher risk for poor health outcomes. They have limited access to reliable sexual and other health information, and typically have little or no health coverage. Solution mHealth for Migrants (M2)…many specific topics on reproductive health. It was operated by reproductive health specialists, and was open to clients for questions about reproductive and family health. A pre-experimental design (with pre- and post-intervention measures) was used to measure the impact of the M2 intervention on female migrants in Vietnam, by tracking changes in knowledge and practices…

Issue Chronic exposure to drinking water with elevated fluoride levels can cause fluorosis, a condition that eventually results in malformed or brittle bones and mottled teeth. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum fluoride drinking water level of 1.5 mg/L, many drinking water sources in Kenya have levels in excess of 2,000 mg/L. There is a need for innovative, environmentally friendly technologies that can remove trace contaminants (such as fluoride) from water in a sustainable manner, particularly from communities that have limited resources and technological…very high concentrations of fluoride in Kenya. The HAIX/ZnO particles technology is already patented and used in filters that are placed over water pumps. This project was designed as a proof-of-concept initiative, to scale up both production and utility of the particles for defluoridation. The project involved partnering with current filter suppliers and women-led groups in the Kenyan Rift Valley. The other…

Issue In Peru, HIV is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), with a prevalence of 12.4% compared to 0.5% in the general population. It is estimated that fewer than 50% of MSM have been tested for HIV and stigma remains a barrier to the uptake of clinic-based prevention services. Solution The project aimed to promote HIV testing among MSM by encouraging them to attend a healthcare centre using a cell phone-based tailored intervention. Qualitative data was collected on interests of the target…interacting with participants were developed, focused on time and frequency of interaction, topics and order of delivery, logistic issues, frequently asked questions, key points for setting an appointment, designing a stigma-free approach, potential problems and communication strategy. The Internet was used to recruit the target population (MSM) by employing banners on the most visited Peruvian gay…test at one of the health centres, versus 25 in the control arm. This outcome was measured by determining how many participants in the intervention arm set up an appointment using their cell phones and subsequently attended the appointment. The project also made a number of individuals aware of their HIV status and provided them…

Issue There is a large and growing disparity in access to specialist care in urban versus rural areas of countries like Kenya. With no incentives for specialists to serve outside Nairobi, this disparity is only likely to grow, leaving poor rural patients facing huge barriers to access specialist care. Solution The project sought to enable …a grant of GBP 250,000 ($505,032 CAD) from the UK Department For International Development’s County Innovation Challenge Fund to extend the remote consultation service into Turkana, to support maternal and newborn health. They have been granted a Utility Model Certificate (similar to a patent) for the technology in Kenya and a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)…

Issue Due to high costs and worldwide production limitations, access to vaccines remains a challenge for developing countries, particularly during pandemics (such as was recently experienced with influenza H1N1). There is a long incubation time for production of vaccines, leading to shortages during pandemics. Solution The goal of the project was to reduce the time …