MedWatch

MedWatch Tanzania empowers communities to report antibiotic use and resistance patterns via a mobile app. By gathering real-time data, it enhances understanding of antimicrobial resistance and informs policy decisions, ultimately protecting people, animals, and the environment in low- and middle-income regions of Tanzania.

Herman Edward, CEO and Founder of MedWatch Tanzania, will lead the team in developing and implementing the proposed community-based antimicrobial resistance surveillance system.

MedWatch Tanzania addresses the urgent problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Tanzania, where limited data, misuse of antibiotics, and inadequate surveillance systems contribute to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Globally, AMR causes an estimated 700,000 deaths annually, projected to reach 10 million by 2050 without intervention. In Tanzania, the situation is particularly concerning, with studies indicating high levels of antibiotic resistance in both hospitals and communities.

The main causes of AMR in Tanzania include overprescription and misuse of antibiotics, limited access to quality medicines, and insufficient understanding of proper antibiotic use. A study published in the Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance found that over 50% of antibiotics are prescribed without a proper diagnosis in Tanzania, and up to 70% of antibiotics are sold without a prescription. Additionally, a survey by the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority revealed that nearly 30% of antibiotics sold in the country are substandard or counterfeit.

Our solution includes:

1. A community-based surveillance system for real-time data collection on antibiotic use and resistance patterns.
2. Raising awareness and educating community members on proper antibiotic use and resistance prevention through the mobile app.
3. Developing targeted interventions to improve antibiotic access and quality in  based on data gathered.

MedWatch Tanzania serves communities in low- and middle-income regions of Tanzania, focusing on the 70% of the population who lack access to proper antibiotic use education and resources. Our solution addresses their need for reliable information and tools to prevent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and make informed decisions about antibiotic use.

To understand the needs of our target audience, we conducted extensive research, including surveys with 500 community members, interviews with 30 healthcare providers, and focus groups with 15 local leaders. This helped us identify key challenges such as limited awareness of AMR (with only 30% of respondents aware of the issue), misconceptions about antibiotics (40% believed antibiotics could cure viral infections), and difficulty accessing quality healthcare services (60% reported traveling more than 5 kilometers to reach a healthcare facility).

We are engaging our target audience throughout the development process by involving them in co-creation workshops, user testing with 100 community members, and feedback sessions. This ensures our solution meets their needs and is user-friendly. Our team also collaborates with local organizations and community leaders to raise awareness about AMR and promote the adoption of our solution, aiming to reach at least 5,000 individuals in the first year of implementation. 

MedWatch Tanzania provides a public good by generating real-time, community-level data on antibiotic use and resistance patterns, which is critical for informing effective policy and action on antimicrobial resistance. This data is made accessible to the public, researchers, and policymakers through an open-source platform, allowing for transparency and collaboration.

Additionally, the MedWatch Tanzania app educates community members on proper antibiotic use and resistance prevention, promoting behavior change and reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This education component is also made available to the public at no cost, further contributing to the public good.

Finally, the development and implementation of MedWatch Tanzania will create local jobs and build capacity in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, providing long-term benefits to the community and contributing to sustainable development goals.

MedWatch Tanzania provides a public good by generating valuable data, promoting education and behavior change, and building local capacity, all while being accessible and transparent to the public.

Our solution, MedWatch Tanzania, aims to create tangible impact by empowering communities to report antibiotic use and resistance patterns in real-time. By providing a user-friendly mobile app, we enable community members to contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improve their own health outcomes.

Our target population includes individuals in low- and middle-income communities in Tanzania who may not have access to proper healthcare facilities or antibiotics. By providing education and resources on proper antibiotic use and resistance prevention, we aim to reduce the misuse of antibiotics and decrease the spread of AMR.

The data collected through our app will be used to inform policy decisions and improve antibiotic stewardship programs. By identifying areas with high resistance rates, healthcare providers and policymakers can take targeted action to address the issue.

We expect to see a decrease in antibiotic resistance rates and an improvement in overall health outcomes for our target population. Our solution has the potential to benefit not only individuals in Tanzania but also contribute to global efforts to combat AMR.

Evidence supporting the effectiveness of community-based surveillance systems can be found in a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Over the next year, we plan to expand MedWatch Tanzania to 5 additional regions in Tanzania, reaching an estimated 100,000 community members. We will achieve this by partnering with local health organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers. In addition, we will invest in marketing and awareness campaigns to increase the adoption of the app and engage more community members.

Over the next 3 years, we aim to scale our impact further by expanding to 20 regions in Tanzania, reaching an estimated 1 million community members. We will also explore opportunities to replicate our model in other low- and middle-income countries with high rates of antimicrobial resistance. To achieve this, we will establish partnerships with global health organizations, government agencies, and international donors. We will also invest in research and development to enhance the functionality and impact of our app, including the integration of machine learning algorithms to improve data analysis and predictive modeling.

To ensure the sustainability of our solution, we will explore revenue-generating opportunities, such as licensing our technology to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. We will also establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track our progress and continuously improve our solution. 

To measure the success Twe have established the following key performance indicators (KPIs):

1. Number of active users: This metric will help us track the adoption and usage of our mobile application. Our goal is to reach at least 5,000 active users within the first year and 20,000 active users within the next three years.
2. Data quality and accuracy: We will measure the accuracy and completeness of the data collected through our application. Our target is to achieve at least 90% accuracy and completeness in the data collected.
3. Antibiotic resistance pattern changes: We will monitor changes in antibiotic resistance patterns in the communities we serve. Our goal is to see a 20% reduction in antibiotic resistance rates within the first year and a 50% reduction within the next three years.
4. Community engagement: We will measure the level of community engagement and participation in our program. Our target is to achieve at least 70% community participation in data collection and reporting.
5. Policy impact: We will track the use of our data and insights in policy decisions and interventions related to antimicrobial resistance. 

We will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to monitor and evaluate our progress.

Within the next 3 years, we plan to deploy our solution in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. These countries have a high burden of antimicrobial resistance, and we believe that our solution can have a significant impact in these regions.

The specific contexts, cultures, infrastructure, and policies that would facilitate the rapid scaling of our solution include:

1. Strong government commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance
2. Existing healthcare infrastructure and community health workers who can help implement our solution
3. Availability of mobile network coverage and internet access in rural areas

Barriers that may limit our impact in the next year and the next 3 years include:

1. Lack of funding to scale our solution
2. Limited technical capacity to develop and maintain our mobile application
3. Resistance from healthcare providers and policymakers to adopt new technologies and approaches
4. Limited awareness and education about antimicrobial resistance among community members

To overcome these barriers, we plan to:

1. Seek funding from donors, government agencies, and private investors to support the scaling of our solution
2. Recruit technical experts and partner with technology companies to develop and maintain our mobile application
3. Engage with healthcare providers and policymakers to build support for our solution and demonstrate its effectiveness

We are applying to The Trinity Challenge because it provides a unique opportunity to address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As a social enterprise based in Tanzania, we face several barriers in scaling our solution, including limited access to funding, lack of technical expertise, and difficulty navigating complex policy environments.

The Trinity Challenge offers a significant funding opportunity, which would enable us to expand our team, develop our technology, and reach more communities in Tanzania and beyond. Additionally, the Challenge's focus on data and analytics aligns with our approach to addressing AMR, and we believe that the expertise and resources available through the Challenge network would be invaluable in refining and scaling our solution.

Furthermore, the Challenge's emphasis on collaboration and partnership building offers a valuable opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in the AMR space, including policymakers, researchers, and other organizations working on this issue. This could help us to overcome some of the policy and regulatory barriers that we currently face, and ensure that our solution is aligned with the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.

We would be keen to collaborate with organizations that have expertise in health systems strengthening, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, and technology development. Specifically, we would like to collaborate with organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Wellcome Trust, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These organizations have a strong track record in addressing AMR and health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income countries, and could provide valuable insights and resources to help us scale our solution.

Additionally, we would be interested in collaborating with academic institutions and research organizations that have expertise in data analytics, machine learning, and epidemiology. These organizations could help us refine our data collection and analysis processes, and identify new ways to use data to inform policy and programmatic decisions.

Finally, we would like to collaborate with local health authorities and community-based organizations in Tanzania and other countries where we plan to operate. These organizations have a deep understanding of the local context and can help us ensure that our solution is tailored to the specific needs and realities of the communities we serve.