MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Wake-Up for COVID 19 Virus Uganda

One-line solution summary:

The project ensures availability of basic corona virus (COVID 19) prevention materials to at least 100 markets

Pitch your solution.

Problem

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) several countries were experiencing sustained local transmission, including in Europe and africa now in Uganda.

Solutions

Conducting radio talk shows on corona virus prevention on 3 local radio stations.
Road shows preaching prevention measures of COVID 19
Supporting of 100 Markets with hand washing facilities with its accessories
Establish digital platform for COVID-19 related data collection
Remote delivery of healthcare and effective dissemination of important public health information
Creating and enhancing new community health programs specific to the pandemic response
Printing of T-shirts, banners, stickers with prevention measure messages about corona virus.
Liaising with the district task force and other stake holders on issues of surveillance and risk communication.

We anticipates outcomes

Enhancing the knowledge of local communities on corona virus (COVID 19) prevention measures.
Ensuring availability of basic corona virus (COVID 19) prevention materials to at least 100 markets.

Film your elevator pitch.

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What specific problem are you solving?

The COVID 19 is continuing to threaten Ugandan districts especially those bordering affected countries Kasese inclusive and its neighbors spreading through human-to-human transmission through eyes, nose and mouth.

Since the outbreak, the situation in the so far affected areas have proven to be difficult to contain as a result of the following different factors.

No drug has been approved to treat the new covid 19 pandemic
Many coronavirus cases and deaths have been confirmed across the globe making it had to contain the situation.
Continuous cross boarder business/ commercial activities between affected countries.

Community social mobilization, Education and awareness among local community on the prevention of the corona virus are most powerful tool to fight the virus in a community like Kasese that borders DRC which has made it prone to the virus. Therefore efforts to complement the effort of Government and other humanitarian agencies working to contain the virus in the country, we would like to carry out an awareness rising sensitization through radio sensitization programs especially talk shows, conducting roadshows preaching prevention measures of Covid 19, supporting of 100 local community markets with hand washing facilities and information materials on the existence and prevention of the corona virus.

What is your solution?

To close the gaps the following interventions have been proposed by GWLF

Activities to be carried-out as a solution

Conducting radio talk shows on corona virus prevention on 3 local radio stations.
Road shows preaching prevention measures of COVID 19
Supporting of 100 Markets with hand washing facilities with its accessories
Establish digital platform for COVID-19 related data collection
Remote delivery of healthcare and effective dissemination of important public health information
Creating and enhancing new community health programs specific to the pandemic response
Printing of T-shirts, banners, stickers with prevention measure messages about corona virus.
Liaising with the district task force and other stake holders on issues of surveillance and risk communication.

The action will help break the barriers of misconceptions that the virus will not reach Uganda and also passing on prevent measures to the entire community.

Under the concept, GWLF will use its staff and structures to reach the targeted areas in the district proposed and communities as to prepare communities as change agents and volunteers set and also to facilitate the coordination system in the fight against the virus.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The project benefits the community atlarge especially children, women, PWDs, businesses, men and all community members directly.

A participatory needs assessment was conducted in the district while developing this solution.

The project will rise awareness on COVID 19 through the local radios and through her existing community structures, community volunteers and Interventions like conducting radio talk shows, conducting roadshows, supporting of local community markets with hand washing facilities, printing of t-shirts, banners, stickers with prevention measures of COVID 19. GWLF will work closely with the District health team/DHOs office to conduct all the planned innervations since GWLF is already a member of the emergency/ epidemic task force.

Outcomes

Enhancing the knowledge of local communities on corona virus (COVID 19) prevention measures.
Ensuring availability of basic corona virus (COVID 19) prevention materials to at least 100 markets

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge.

GWLF is a member of the district emergency/ epidemic task force and is as on the WASH, surveillance and risk communication committees during the Ebola response project last year. GWLF has also participated in other emergency response including floods in Kasese, Floods in Bududa and Cholera outbreaks.

It is critical to note beneficiaries and key partners involved in community mobilization and sensitization which is key in having an impact on COVID 19 Preparedness and prevention and forwards this solution for consideration as way of prevention of COVID 19 spread in the region and planned to take six months.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Kasese, Uganda

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Executive Director and Foundation Chairperson

More About Your Solution

If your solution has a website, provide a link here:

https://www.giftwomenlink.com/healthproject

If your solution proposes an app that is currently live, provide a link to your app online or in an app store here:

None

If you have additional video content that explains your solution, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link here:

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Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new business model or process

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

GWLF rich strategic working solutions based on participatory needs assessment and closely working Village health teams, market vendors, GWLF community Volunteers involvement in addition to government approaches makes us unique in problem solving.

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

Establish digital platform for COVID-19 related data collection, Remote delivery of healthcare and effective dissemination of important public health information to the globe

Provide evidence that this technology works.

Gift Women Link Foundation (GWLF) is a member of the district emergency/ epidemic task force and is as on the WASH, surveillance and risk communication committees during the Ebola response project last year. GWLF participated in the previous Ebola emergency response in Kasese district that championed the sensitization and mobilization of communities on Ebola prevention and control.

This technological solution has been suggested by WHO and the Government of Uganda.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Ancestral Technology & Practices
Big Data

What is your theory of change?

Community health sustainability, surveillance and risk communication within communities during pandemics in Uganda.

Select the key characteristics of your target population.

Women & Girls
Pregnant Women
Infants
Children & Adolescents
Elderly
Rural
Peri-Urban
Urban
Poor
Persons with Disabilities

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

3. Good Health and Well-Being
6. Clean Water and Sanitation

In which countries do you currently operate?

Uganda

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Uganda

How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?

We currently serve 142 members.

We anticipate serving 1000 members directly and 5000 indirectly during our solutions implementation.

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

Our proposed next goals;

Promote rural small scale agriculture in women communities
To educate, support and care for the vulnerable women for education, medical care, food, scholarship, materials and the general welfare.
To promote the need for protection of vulnerable women, to live in a peaceful and enjoyable environment
To empower women in vocational skill management to improve on their standards of living
To conserve the environment so as to limit environmental Degradation
To facilitate inter-grated self-income generating and developmental initiatives through training so that skills and knowledge acquired remains resident with the people for self-reliance and sustainability.
To enable people to recognize the inter-relationship between health, nutrition, agriculture, income generation, human and community development.
To facilitate and carry on HIV/AIDS awareness of the adolescent and women communities.
To train the rural population on natural resource management and conservation.

What barriers currently exist for you to accomplish your goals in the next year and in the next five years?

Inadequate funding for our projects and activities.

Illiteracy within women communities in Rwenzori Region.

Political Instabilities in Rwenzori Region.

Lack of committed partners to boost us with capacity building, projects implementation and exchange programmes to address research and development in the region.

Corruption in individuals, companies and organisations

How do you plan to overcome these barriers?

We plan to implement several projects and solutions with partners, consortia and government initiative participation towards attaining sustainable development in Kasese Uganda.

Acquistion of grants and partnerships from several sectors around the world will enable GWLF address these challenges.

About Your Team

What type of organization is your solution team?

Nonprofit

If you selected Other, please explain here.

None

How many people work on your solution team?

9 staff members

Name

Gender

Job title

Full Time/Part time

Bwambale Rwamanyonyi

Male

Executive Director

Full-Time

Tusiime Jennipher

Male

Admistrative Assistant

Full-Time

Stefania Nicoleta Bratu

Female

Project Manager

Part-Time

Graziella Tonato

Female

Project Manager

Part-Time

Nyakato Annita

Female

Chair Person

Full-Time

Sunny Lilliane

Female

Accountant

Full-Time

Geetha Plackal

Female

Social Media Manager

Part-Time

Mbambu Mirieri

Female

Clinic Administrator

Full-Time

Biira JemimaFemaleVice ChairpersonFullTime

How many years have you worked on your solution?

5 Years working in this field.

Why are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

As earlier described,

Gift Women Link Foundation (GWLF) is a member of the district emergency/ epidemic task force and is as on the WASH, surveillance and risk communication committees during the Ebola response project last year. GWLF participated in the previous Ebola emergency response in Kasese district that championed the sensitization and mobilization of communities on Ebola prevention and control. GWLF has also participated in other emergency response including floods in Kasese, Floods in Bududa and Cholera outbreaks.

What organizations do you currently partner with, if any? How are you working with them?

We partnered with International Consulations Limited UK to expand on community health project.

Compago Italy to address Eco-Crafting for social change.

International Telecommunications Union towards Empowering Girls in ICT for Kasese Uganda.

https://www.giftwomenlink.com/partners

Your Business Model & Funding

Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities

Why are you applying to Solve?

We seek for a grant of 20,048 for Wake-Up for COVID 19 Virus among local rural communities of Kasese District, western Uganda project.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

Funding and revenue model

Please explain in more detail here.

GWLF has the mandate and capacity to any partnership with any development partner to implement any program that lies within its mandate. This is justified by existence of well trained staff, evidences of successfully implemented projects, well laid administration structure, and a strategic Plan which gives GWLF a direction in all her undertakings.

With all this, No development partner would regret partnering with GWLF.

What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?

MIT faculty or initiatives, Solve Members, International Organisations, UN organisations, European Commission and many others through project to project partnership, funding, project exchanges, capacity building and emergency response funding.

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the Innovation for Women Prize to advance your solution?

The second strategic plan (2018-2022) has also been prepared and started implementation of the planned programs to contribute for the overall efforts of ensuring women's Health, girls, children food, livelihood and environmental security that realizes sustainable development and social transformation in Kasese region especially to the areas around the national parks of Uganda . GWLF envisions poverty free people of Kasese region, Uganda. Its strategic missions are: Empowering poor communities and their organizations in Kasese to achieve livelihoods and environmental security and strives to realize its missions through food security and agricultural development, water resources development and hygiene- sanitation promotion, forest resource development and environmental protection programs and mainstreaming of cross cutting issues such as capacity development, gender, HIV/AIDS and Harm full traditional practices.

The prize would help us meet our goal.