Beeline Reader
On March 1, 2021, Solve launched the 2021 Health Security and Pandemics Challenge. It is Solve’s first repeat Global Challenge (following the 2020 Health Security & Pandemics Challenge), and for good reason: as of September 8, 2021, over 2020 million confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported, and over 4.5 million people have died. The crisis highlights our lack of global preparedness for disease outbreaks, health inequities, and weaknesses in our health systems. Covid-19 is not the first pandemic—and it won’t be the last.
That’s why Solve asked innovators across the globe: How can communities prepare for, detect, and respond to emerging pandemics and health security threats? The response was heartening: social entrepreneurs from 64 countries submitted 349 solutions.
After carefully reviewing these applications, Solve and the Health Security and Pandemics Challenge Leadership Group selected 15 finalists to pitch their solutions to the Solve community. After much deliberation, our expert judges selected seven Solver teams for our Health Security & Pandemics Challenge. These teams have innovative approaches to equipping last-mile primary healthcare providers, strengthening disease surveillance, preventing the spread of misinformation, and combating the mental health impacts of disease outbreaks.
We are thrilled to introduce the 2021 Health Security and Pandemics Solver Class:
Crowddroning by GLOBHE
Crowddroning, based in Stockholm, Sweden, sends out local drone pilots to help capture high-quality data on demand, to help detect and predict disasters and prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.
M’Care App
M'Care Compass, based in Kwara, Nigeria, detects, diagnoses, treats and limits the spread of diseases and outbreaks for low resource settings by bridging the health and epidemic resilience gap for rural residents.
Pamoja Initiative
Pamoja, based in Nakuru, Kenya, is a culturally adapted, community-based mental health recovery model. Pamoja bridges the gap in treatment at the grassroots to provide free or affordable therapy, diagnosis and treatment, and social support for those in recovery.
Sibel’s ANNE One
ANNE One, based in Chicago, USA, is an ICU-grade wearable sensor system with predictive analytics and real-time streaming for advanced remote patient monitoring to help preserve hospital capacity and reduce unnecessary exposure.
SMILE: SMart last-mILE cooling system
SMILE, based in Cambridge, UK, is the only user-centered last-mile vaccine carrier with air-locking mechanisms to minimise human error and vaccine wastage, designed to improve efficiency in critical research and distribution worldwide.
STRIATA
STRIATA, based in Washington D.C., USA, is a distribution central command for pandemic response. AI technology predicts system capacity and makes recommendations to optimize allocation of scarce health resources.
Vula Mobile
Vula Mobile, based in Cape Town, South Africa, allows health workers to communicate, make referrals, organize appointments and support each other to give rural, remote, and underserved areas the best possible healthcare.
Feeling inspired? Find out how you can support these innovators, and learn more about joining Solve as a Member.
