New Page: Article Index

We’ve just added a new page – Article Index. We’ll be using this page to post links to journal entries, or even online news articles, for both our reference and the benefit of anyone who’d like to read more about research that’s been done in appropriate technology and health systems modeling.

If you know of an interesting and relevant article that’s not on our list, let us know! Post a comment on the page, or on this post, or email Amy at acanham at bu.edu

How can you get involved?

The 100×100 group is looking for anyone interesting in technology design for developing countries!  We’d love to hear from people who…

• have a project idea, whether small-scale or world-changing
• have experience working in resource-limited settings
• would like to join our discussions, or contribute enthusiasm or expertise to our projects!

To jump right in, comment on this post or contact Amy Canham directly at acanham *at* bu.edu.

Future Of Health: Handheld Hospital

Some examples of telemedicine and portable diagnostics for the developing world:

http://www.psfk.com/2010/08/future-of-health-handheld-hospital.html

“This post is part of a PSFK Consulting project aimed at providing insight into the Future of Health. Handheld Hospital is one trend of fifteen that appears in our exploration of  how technology and access to information play a vital role in the ways that people will understand, manage and receive care whether that’s at home, in hospitals and clinics or in doctor’s offices.”

The need for health systems modeling

Just stumbled upon this great article on system dynamics modeling for public health, with this quote about why complex health systems must be examined from system-wide perspective:

“The term dynamic complexity has been used to describe such evolving situations.  Dynamically complex problems are often characterized by long delays between causes and effects, and by multiple goals and interests that may in some ways conflict with one another.  In such situations, it is difficult to know how, where, and when to intervene, because most interventions will have unintended consequences and will tend to be resisted or undermined by opposing interests or as a result of limited resources or capacities.”

Well put.

Social Entrepreneur Mondays@Tantric

TiE Social Entrepreneurs Monthly Meetup

Each month, TiE sponsors a networking event for social entrepreneurs in and around Boston.  Last night I attended the event for August, with the focus “Low Cost Health Solutions for the Developing World”.  The food was delicious and the presentations were fascinating!  Next month, the topic is “Innovative Micro-Finance Solutions.”  You can sign up to RSVP on meetup.com by clicking the link above.

“Babies Babies Babies!

Here is a post from a Peace Corps Volunteer that is in Zambia. She talks about helping out with Child Health Week, children taking baths, food, and conversations with locals.

An excerpt:

There has been a pretty bad outbreak of measles in Zambia so the Child Health week was geared just towards giving information about measles and then giving the vaccine to kids 6 months to 4 years 11 months. My job in this process was to write down the child’s name and age on a pink card. It was pretty hectic, and at times overwhelming. One of the saddest parts was that sometimes if the mother didn’t have the under 5 card, she didn’t know the day, month or even YEAR her child was born. Just as bad- many of the mother’s couldn’t spell their children’s names. I understand they do not have to write it very much- but it is still pretty sad that they give their child a name they can’t spell. The positive is that hundreds of kids are now protected from measles.

Speaking of babies… I have to mention how funny it is when the kids in the village get bathed. You know when a child has recently been bathed because they are literally GLOWING. The mothers here SLATHER the kids in either glycerin or petroleum jelly after being washed.

African Studies Give Women Hope in H.I.V. Fight

NYTimes article detailing the CAPRISA 004 Tenofovir Gel Trial –  the first study of a microbicidal product containing an antiretroviral drug.  The trial showed that the gel, when  used correctly, reduces HIV infections by 39%!