MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

EM-Response

One-line solution summary:

A mobile solution, suitable for the grassroots and those without internet, that will help in early and quick response to health emergencies

Pitch your solution.

When there is a health emergency like the COVID-19 that ravaged the world, gaps abound in a holistic awareness creation and effective response. For those at the grassroots especially in Africa, many are unable to read and write, many do not have access to the internet and suffer prolonged power outages, making them unable to seek for help and learn about any health emergency.

We are proposing a mobile solution that will aid fast response and awareness creation in local languages. This solution is an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) that will enable people dial a number and it will prompt them to listen in their preferred language choice about the contextual health information. This solution is integrated with a rapid response that will enable health workers to either locate the patient quickly or have an ambulance sent to them to bring them to a health care facility.

What specific problem are you solving?

As the news about the global pandemic continue to circulate, it has highlighted disparities in the access to information to many at the grassroots in Nigeria. Unfortunately, estimates show a high illiteracy rate in Nigeria with over 41 million Nigerians who are unable to read or write. So far, mainstream sources such as social media platforms have played a vital role in sharing information about the COVID-19 online, however, as at year 2020, the internet penetration for Nigerians was only 42%, underscoring usage for only about 85.49million population out of over 200 million total population. This, therefore, means more than 115 million people in Nigeria do not have access to the internet. Social media presence is relatively low with only about 27 million Nigerians with any social media account. It is also estimated that more than 82 million Nigerians live on less than 1USD per day. Many experience prolonged power outages or do not have access to electricity at all. With all these challenges highlighted, it becomes apparent that the grassroots- the people who live without much internet use, low literacy levels, and barely any electricity do not have access to accurate and reliable information on the COVID-19.

What is your solution?

Our EM-Response is an interactive voice response that gives Government Agencies and NGOs the ability to provide relevant information to citizens in a responsive and proactive manner. It will automate the most common questions about diseases and their spread. This toll free service is securely hosted in the cloud and scales on-demand to handle as many calls as needed. There is no technical expertise or access to the internet required from users. It will screen calls to handle basic and common questions and in local languages, access would be provided to a common knowledge base of information sourced and curated from vetted and approved agencies, such as the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation.

The localization of the IVR supports multiple languages and enables agencies to provide their own customized messages and resources to callers. This could include information such as the locations of local health care facilities or local quarantine procedures in effect. In addition, integrations into back-office systems, such as health care provider directories, can be accommodated. In addition, this solution provides mass self-assessment by automating the most common questions about health issues and individuals can perform their test via answering questions relating to symptoms.

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

Our targets are people at the grassroots, and those in remote villages who do not have access to the internet and often times experience prolonged power outages or do not have electricity supply at all. We are working on ensuring that these people, in line with the sustainable development vision, that no one is left behind, based on their level of literacy or poverty. We want to ensure that no life is lost in any health emergency and as well enable them gain quick access to health care. This will also help keep them informed about any health emergency. Information will be provided to them in their own language to ensure they properly understand what is required of them in cases of emergency. We have pitched our ideas to some State governments here in Nigeria and it was welcomed. However, we await our budgetary approval to enable us implement our solution. While on this, we continue to gather our data on the perceptions of the locals on the solution we propose, and are bringing this idea to the MIT where we are sure that projects and ideas like this are supported.

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

Since the emergence of the COVID-19, it became clear how ill-equipped many countries are in raising awareness and responding to pandemics. Our solution will bridge these gaps and help governments and NGOs adequately ready for health emergencies. The solution will enable our targets have access to information about health emergencies in their local languages; it will also enable mass self assessment and a proactive outreach to millions of population. This will ensure early detection and quick response to any health crisis. The uniqueness of this solution makes its suitable for the targets as no technical expertise is required for users.

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

Lagos, Nigeria

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Judith I. Ani