URBAN ART FOR HOPE
A mHealth app that provides in depth data, information and resources in regards to services and commodities accessibility on matters health and socioeconomic needs for vulnerable populations.
Our mHealth app platform does population screening, dissemination of information to different target groups, prioritizing the use and allocation of resources, and designing targeted responses.
It ensures vulnerable populations have continued efficient access to their health needs during the mitigation, surge, and recovery/suppression phases of the COVID-19 pandemic at a click on their mobile phones in the comfort of their homes and workplaces with minimal movement and physical proximity ,saving them valuable time in their daily schedule and cost friendly in the entirety of the process unlike before, pre and post engagement with the health service providers and routine automated system notifications that help them with adherence on their medication for those under care and during pre-natal and post-natal clinic visits.
Globally, Covid 19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented demand for digital health technology solutions and has revealed successful solutions such as our mHealth app platform for population screening, dissemination of information to different target groups, tracking the infection, prioritizing the use and allocation of resources, and designing targeted responses.Our mHealth app working in synergy with like minded stakeholders that their mHealth App can be used to support governments, program staff, and local partners to ensure vulnerable populations have continued efficient and effective access to their health needs during the mitigation, surge, and recovery/suppression phases of the COVID-19 pandemic at a click on their mobile phones in the comfort of their homes and workplaces with minimal movement and physical proximity ,saving them valuable time in their daily schedule and cost friendly in the entirety of the process unlike before, pre and post engagement with the health service providers and routine automated system notifications that help them with adherence on their medication for those under care and during pre-natal and post-natal clinic visits. Once the epidemic is contained or eliminated, programming can return to standard, evidence-based practices on other Sexual Reproductive Health and Sexual Health Rights needs shall still be available.
Noting that World Health Organization and World Bank have procedural strategies for implementation of recommendations for health development. Guidance for maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 outbreak urges governments to adapt services to promote the use of digital health services, self-care options, and task sharing to ensure continued access to services, medication, and counseling.Our organization as a linkages organization works in guidance with World Health Organizations through our mobile health app that promotes efficient accessibility of Health needs for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable populations like the Key Populations; Adolescents and young persons(AYP), Pregnant and lactating mothers, People living with HIV AID (PLWHIV), Gender based violence victims and advocacy for sexual Human rights. Moreover, COVID-19 care protocols according to World Health Organization of social distancing and stay at home requirements globally and regionally has had a negative effect on our target population accessing their daily health needs effectively and efficiently since they cannot access the health facilities as before. Our mobile health app therefore provides in depth data, information and resources in regards to services and commodities accessibility on matters health and social economic needs.
- How can countries ensure that digital authentication mechanisms—which often require smartphones, computers and internet access—are accessible to marginalized and vulnerable populations to facilitate remote access to services and benefits?
Our app has an end to end user encrypted system that ensures conversations are only between the two parties involved at any given time guaranteeing total privacy and security on all data and information in our system.
It has a fire-base data base platform that enables us to hold and disseminate information to a target population efficiently working on a bilateral system which work on cases of mass referrals of our clients and visits to our app and online integrated website platform with the information always generated for our tracking and in-depth analysis and improvement on the services we offer.
- Growth: An individual or organization with an established product, service or model rolled out, which is poised for further growth in multiple locations.
- A new application of an existing technology
We currently have no known competitors globally who use mHealth in ensuring accessibility of Health and socioeconomic needs to vulnerable populations.Having registered,copyrighted and patented our innovation we remain the sole providers of this unique and noble service ,of which we efficiently do it also good to note that our mHealth App;
-Our App has a fire-base data base platform that enables us to hold and disseminate information to a target population efficiently on a large scale without hitches which works on a bilateral system which works on cases of mass referrals of our clients and visits to our app and online integrated website platform with the information always generated for our tracking and in-depth analysis and improvement on the services we offer.
-Our v1.2 an automated live chat that comes from a system integrated /generated autobot which is able to engage with our clients on conversations regarding their needs at any particular point they visit our app. It’s worth noting that these conversations are always linked with our team of professionals; medics, legal team, socioeconomic experts who are philanthropic in answering the questions raised by the clients and guiding them appropriately.
Urban Art For Hope as a linkages nonprofit organization, has a mobile health app and has ensured it upon themselves and partnering stakeholders that their mHealth App can be used to support governments, program staff, and local partners to ensure vulnerable populations have continued efficient and effective access to their health needs during the mitigation, surge, and recovery/suppression phases of the COVID-19 pandemic at a click on their mobile phones in the comfort of their homes and workplaces with minimal movement and physical proximity ,saving them valuable time in their daily schedule and cost friendly in the entirety of the process unlike before, pre and post engagement with the health service providers and routine automated system notifications that help them with adherence on their medication for those under care and during pre-natal and post-natal clinic visits.
The mHealth App promotes efficient accessibility of Health needs for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable populations like the Key Populations; Adolescents and young persons(AYP), Pregnant and lactating mothers, People living with HIV AID (PLWHIV), Gender based violence victims and advocacy for sexual Human rights. Moreover, COVID-19 care protocols according to World Health Organization of social distancing and stay at home requirements globally and regionally has had a negative effect on our target population accessing their daily health needs effectively and efficiently since they cannot access the health facilities as before.Our mobile health app therefore provides in depth data, information and resources in regards to services and commodities accessibility on matters health.
- Software and Mobile Applications
The World Health Organization guidance on Evidence-based service delivery models that enhance access to quality health services and minimize exposure to COVID-19 for vulnerable populations encourages:Maximized use of remote approaches (e.g. telemedicine, video, telephone, digital applications, SMS, voice calls, interactive voice response) to: → Provide information and counseling to individuals about health services and available options and conduct follow-up. → Deliver health services by standard medical methods, with or without a real-time interaction with a service provider, and in some cases, without any involvement of a service provider. The treatment package should be delivered at the client home via e-mail/courier. Where home delivery is not feasible, clients can be supported with information about the nearest pharmacy/drug store where to access quality medication. Key considerations for target populations safety and sustainability of telemedicine: → Adequate support with information and linkage to an accessible facility should be given to the client as explained above for self-use of medication prescribed. → The individual must be able to understand the information provided. → Consent does not have to be a written signature, but an entry must be made in the clinical notes that a client has given informed consent depending on particular service case scenario.
Our mobile Health Application attempts to curate useful resources on Adolescent Girls and Young Women, People Living with HIV/AIDS and people who inject hard drugs are sure to get access to effective and efficient services. Our platform provides access to information database for stakeholders, deep insight on COVID-19 knowledge according to resources developed by the WHO including up-to-the minute guidance, tools, training and virtual workshops to support the frontier health service providers in caring for those affected by COVID-19 on handling Personal Protective Equipment and themselves safely and presence of a Virtual Safe Space through our organizations online Web linked Social Media Platforms
We’ve directly reached/benefited 8,000-10,000 per week according to our previous test which pivoted on the power of Social Media Reach and referral system. Our major targets being vulnerable population in Western Kenya.
Our App has a fire-base data base platform that enables us to hold and disseminate information to a target population efficiently on a large scale without hitches which works on a bilateral system which works on cases of mass referrals of our clients and visits to our app and online integrated website platform with the information always generated for our tracking and in-depth analysis and improvement on the services we offer.
We have an automated live chat that comes from a system integrated /generated auto-bot which is able to engage with our clients on conversations regarding their needs at any particular point they visit our app. It’s worth noting that these conversations are always linked with our team of professionals; medics, legal team, socioeconomic experts who are philanthropic in answering the questions raised by the clients and guiding them appropriately.
Our app has an end to end user encrypted system that ensures conversations are only between the two parties involved at any given time. This locks out any intrusion by the third parties guaranteeing that information about our clients is always safe and secure every time they engage with our app.
It has a system generated notification on different programs that we ran. This ensures efficiency on mass retention's, referrals and adherence
We have User Inter-phase (UI) which is easy to use for our target population.
Our app is also majorly inclined on capitalizing the power of social media platforms and a toll free line for text messaging audio and video calls and image exchanges to ensure efficiency in communication between our target population and end user at any given point.We’re currently supported by volunteers and partner with like-minded companies, consultants and organizations on the initiative and we’ve integrated stakeholders from both the county government(s) and nonprofit entities under to support us on;
- Mental Health:
- Psychological and Psychosocial support
- Overview of psychological first Aid
- De-stigmatization and Integration of COVID 19 patients back into the community
- Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health(RMNCAH)
- Early/timely identification of pregnancy and linking to the nearby convenient health facility
- Improving the Antenatal and post-natal attendance including birth outcomes i.e. reduced maternal and infant mortality cases in the supported regions.
- Digitizing enhanced mass referral and client’s retention on the care/follow up; our app reaches many of our target population from the comfort of their homes by just a click of a button on their smart phones.
- Sexual and gender based Violence; our app has a digitalized
- Digital HIV Programming which comes which is end to end encrypted making information about our target population in the data base safer without breach of confidentiality.
- Clients HIV knowledge testing
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis and post exposure prophylaxis
- Retention on care
- Socioeconomic /livelihood programs
- Conduct financial capability training's
- Linking our target population with the cooperate bodies offering loan e.g. Kenya Commercial Bank, Faulu Kenya,Equity bank etc.
Based on the the nature of our target population and the sensitivity of our programs to them our system can not be integrated with other systems .However there are exceptions in that;
Our App has a fire-base data base platform that enables us to hold and disseminate information to a target population efficiently & a bilateral system which works on cases of mass referrals of our clients and visits to our app and online integrated website platform with the information always generated for our tracking and in-depth analysis and improvement on the services we offer.We have an automated live chat that comes from a system integrated /generated auto-bot which is able to engage with our clients on conversations regarding their needs at any particular point they visit our app. It’s worth noting that these conversations are always linked with our team of professionals; medics, legal team, socioeconomic experts who are philanthropic in answering the questions raised by the clients and guiding them appropriately.
Our app has an end to end user encrypted system that ensures conversations are only between the two parties involved at any given time. This locks out any intrusion by the third parties guaranteeing that information about our clients is always safe and secure every time they engage with our app.
It has a system generated notification on different programs that we ran. This ensures efficiency on mass retention's, referrals and adherence
We have User Inter-phase (UI) which is easy to use for our target population.
We have User Inter-phase (UI) which is easy to use for our target population.developed after prior community engagement research/survey models.We are continually working with the relevant stakeholders on technology and infrastructure investment, mobile operator engagement and dedicated government support are all essential if wider coverage and deeper penetration – predicated on cost reduction – are to be achieved in LMIC settings, where mobile coverage is generally unaffordable. Broadband data access costs less than 5% of average gross monthly income in only five low-income countries, and more than 5% in other low-income countries.
- Women & Girls
- Pregnant Women
- LGBTQ+
- Children & Adolescents
- Peri-Urban
- Urban
- Poor
- Low-Income
- Middle-Income
- Minorities & Previously Excluded Populations
- Persons with Disabilities
With our weekly achievable target of 40,000 vulnerable populations that makes a three months target be 120,000 .The goal of our initiative is to promote efficient accessibility of Health needs for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable populations during the COVID -19 period and in its post period still close the Health need gap to a gradual realization of nil cases, reduce poverty through our socioeconomic programs, gender inequality and improve health outcomes for our target populations in targeted communities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.To be precise
we directly reach/benefit 20,000-50,000 per week according to our previous
test which pivoted on the power of Social Media Reach and referal system. Our major
targets being Key Population;People living With HIV/AIDS, adolescent girls and young
women aged 15–24 years (in a week; an already tested on the ground analysis is from most
resent projects feedback from our stakeholders) who are residents of our operations in
Africa.
-Increase County Government’s responsiveness in addressing RMNCAH during COVID 19
-Relocating the county government’s obligation with regards to addressing Mental Health and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH);
-Evaluate the county government’s responsiveness for Mental Health and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) during COVID 19;
-Providing a platform for CSO's to share their challenges and good practices in SRH and Mental
-Identifying Health related challenges and identifying opportunities for collaboration and support.
-Obtaining better understanding of effective engagement and identification of ways of strategic engagement with a variety of key stakeholders to ensure greater impact and sustainability with regards to community engagement
-Identification of key allies and opportunities for collaboration and support.
With this in light our initiative’s approach closely abiding by World Health Organization guidance are: -
- Organize and conduct community social norms change advocacy and lobbying forums.
- Organize and conduct financial capability training's.
- Facilitate Social asset building groups and provide dignity packs to our target populations.
- Dissemination of COVID 19 information, communication and education materials on our programs.
- Embrace synergy with like-minded entities from both the private and public sector in this implementation of our initiative.
Models for user acceptance demonstrates that individuals’ reaction to information technology drives their intention to use information technology, such as m-health. This then ultimately determines their actual use. Research indicates that an individuals’ intention to use a system such as m-health may explain the actual use of information of a system or alternatively can be used to explain the challenges when use behavior is low. For example, if using the information technology is slow and difficult to use, this may influence individuals to use it less frequently or abandoning the technology.
The acceptance and use of m-health applications.Research already indicates mixed findings on reaching at-risk populations as most apps focus on high-cost populations, leaving unexplored the reach to the most at-risk population groups in East Africa, who will then remain disadvantaged because the actualization of mobile phones for aiding service access will remain confined .It is imperative to address the cost-effectiveness challenges inherent in implementation.As designers of interventions we have to recognize the constraints of the East African health system and consider appropriate options for this context.
There are limited information technology (IT) skills and training especially among none users. Health apps are downloaded and used without guidance. We therefore, raise the level of acceptance among none users, allow for personal contact persons during the initial phase of use and User Interface training.
mHealth services are based on unsustainable business models due to the dependence on donor funding. There is a high risk for discontinuation of services. Therefore, there is a need for innovative business models that are based on best practice and that's what we've come up with and makes us different in that we've figured out how we're going to self generate revenue to facilitate us as we grow to scale from our version 1.2 henceforth.
- Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Founding Members; Founder Joel Alex Olang, Co-founder Rodgers Omondi Kongina ,Co-founder Austine Wanga Oduor assisted by Senior Management team of 4 and Board of directors and a group of 8 passionate volunteers.
*The Founding team are full time workers and Senior Management staff are part time workers.
My team consists of Eco-activists and professionals,medical
officers,paralegal team and socioeconomic professionals are always on the receiving end to give the required feedback
to our target population 24-7 and philanthropic about our target population.
We are part of civil society organizations active at the grassroots, national, regional
and international level, with one of our Global Goals implementation programs
primary focuson gender equality and women/girls’ and the lgbti rights advanced
through a variety of activities, including advocacy and policy dialogue, awarenessraising,
service provision, research, and networking with our presence in Kisumu
city in Western Kenya and through secured partnership with Tantine Group limited
in Kigali Rwanda with plans to extend our reach to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and
Juba in South Sudan by mid 2021.
We are in the process of having on board partners from the private and public sector who at a fee for the for
profits are able to access our target population traffic flow database.This will act as an international visibility and
market platform for them where they can always pitch about what they offer in terms of services and commodities
and convert our target population to be their clients ,a source of
revenue for our Organization for use in the implementation of our programs in ensured continuous growth to scale .
For the non profit partners ,they will be able to supply as with data and information about service delivery and
commodities availability from their public and private facilities which we will be constantly updating on our app data
and information resource centre and in return we will be able to send referrals of our target population their way and
get them increased international visibility a win win situation that works with our technological target population
approach system and benefits our for profit stakeholders eventually . This
is integrated with our website which has a toll free number which can be dialed in for free or communication be done
through free texts or on our Social Medial Platforms where a team of Eco-activists and professionals,medical
officers,paralegal team and socioeconomic professionals are always on the receiving end to give the required feedback
to our target population 24-7 .
We will work with the existing structures from the public and private sector as a measure of reducing costs a
sustainability measure.
- Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)
Through our freemium model our stakeholders who're the government and private entities offering the health services and socioeconomic needs to our target population,will stand to benefit free of charge on the first phase of our model by getting mass referrals and international visibility and a wide diverse market to pitch the products and services ,however when they will want data and information from our servers and databases we under World Health Organization client privacy guidelines avail the data at a cost not minimum of $10000 per entity,this multiplied by the fact that we will run in all the major cities and towns within our spheres of operations will create sufficient funds to run our programs self sustainably and scale to grow.Due our possession of international patent we will franchise whoever will want to use our brand and innovation elsewhere on the world,this will also add income to our reservoir accounts fund .
Currently we are operating on angel investors donations aiming at getting funding as we gear up to getting self sustainable once our user database has a given number of stakeholders over a given time served and our freemium model can efficiently move into phase 2.
We seek to raise $30000 grant funding by December of this year as detailed below ;
Goal 1:
Key Action Steps
Timeline
Expected Outcome
Data Source and Evaluation Methodology
Person/Area Responsible
Comments
County Entry Meetings
10 Dec 2020;
Nairobi;09/10/2020
Mombasa/ 19/10/2020 Eldoret 26/10/2020
No. of pre –entry meetings done
Attendance sheet
Executive Director
Goal 2:
Key Action Steps
Timeline
Expected Outcome
Data Source and Evaluation Methodology
Person/Area Responsible
Comments
Sensitization of county Health Management Teams
December 2020
Kisumu
Nairobi
Mombasa
Eldoret
No. Sensitized/Trained on the App
Training /sensitization List/ Participants list, Attendance List/ Mpesa payment forms
Executive Director
Dependent on availability of funds
Goal 3:
Key Action Steps
Timeline
Expected Outcome
Data Source and Evaluation Methodology
Person/Area Responsible
Comments
Profiling of the Health care facilities to operate from/with
December
No. of facility profiled
DHIS/ MOH inventory register
Executive Director
Goal 4:
Key Action Steps
Timeline
Expected Outcome
Data Source and Evaluation Methodology
Person/Area Responsible
Comments
System Upgrade for App to accommodate the Expanded data containment flow/information
December 2020
Upgrade from version 1.2 to version 1.3 on the following platforms google play store, Amazon Appstore and Huawei App Gallery
*Launch and upgrade is dependent on donors/investors compatibility
Director ICT/ Executive director
System to involve bilateral messaging
Training of facility health care workers
December/ January 2021
No. of HCW trained on the UAFH App
Participant and training list
Executive director
Mapping of target Population in the supported regions
February
Target group reached
Participant list
Executive Director
Snowballing
WHO prioritizes provision of safe abortion services within the full extent of the law, as a component of the package of SRH services that is essential to maintain during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is critical to fully understand the law and legal exceptions in each country. Even in countries where access to abortion is highly restricted, pregnancy termination if often available for broad social, medical, and mental health indications, making it a safe and legal option in most countries under certain circumstances. CAC is part of the Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health, an international standard of care that should be implemented at the onset of every emergency, including public health emergencies. Given that it is time-sensitive, abortion must always be considered an essential service and provided regardless of whether elective services are suspended. Delays in CAC can force women over gestational thresholds, prohibiting access in many countries and leaving only surgical options in others. Increases in gestational age and surgical requisites may require specialized providers and inpatient services, which put further strain on the health system and create additional risk for both women and healthcare workers.WHO, guidance for maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 outbreak urges governments to adapt services to promote the use of digital health services, self-care options, and task sharing to ensure continued access to services, medication, and counseling.The above information guides our vision to apply and be able to attend to this particular existing gap amongst other program needs.
- Product/service distribution
- Funding and revenue model
- Marketing, media, and exposure
-Increase County Government’s responsiveness in addressing RMNCAH during COVID 19
-Relocating the county government’s obligation with regards to addressing Mental Health and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH);
-Evaluate the county government’s responsiveness for Mental Health and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) during COVID 19;
-Providing a platform for CSO's to share their challenges and good practices in SRH and Mental
-Identifying Health related challenges and identifying opportunities for collaboration and support.
-Obtaining better understanding of effective engagement and identification of ways of strategic engagement with a variety of key stakeholders to ensure greater impact and sustainability with regards to community engagement
-Identification of key allies and opportunities for collaboration and support.
Since the World Health Organization guidance on Evidence-based service delivery models that enhance access to quality health services and minimize exposure to COVID-19 for vulnerable populations encourages:
Maximized use of remote approaches (e.g. telemedicine, video, telephone, digital applications, SMS, voice calls, interactive voice response) to: → Provide information and counseling to individuals about health services and available options and conduct follow-up. → Deliver health services by standard medical methods, with or without a real-time interaction with a service provider, and in some cases, without any involvement of a service provider. The treatment package should be delivered at the client home via e-mail/courier. Where home delivery is not feasible, clients can be supported with information about the nearest pharmacy/drug store where to access quality medication. Key considerations for target populations safety and sustainability of telemedicine: → Adequate support with information and linkage to an accessible facility should be given to the client as explained above for self-use of medication prescribed. → The individual must be able to understand the information provided. → Consent does not have to be a written signature, but an entry must be made in the clinical notes that a client has given informed consent depending on particular service case scenario.
WHO, guidance for maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 outbreak urges governments to adapt services to promote the use of digital health services, self-care options, and task sharing to ensure continued access to services, medication, and counseling we welcome entities that will make this possible.
Mr.