TELEPROSERV

My organisation provides free medical digital service that connects affected women or girls of Obstetric Fistula to medical professionals enabling them access to medical treatment. 

Teleproserv is a social innovation that will tremendously mitigate this preventable disease by developing the skills of these women on access to early quality healthcare and educating them on how to be more independent. They will have access to early quality medical service and receive regular counselling through established regular member meetings. Education is also provided in order to teach the women and girls how to use communication devices and access platforms. The platform will be easy to use and language friendly.

An estimated 50000 to 100000 women around the globe suffer the debilitating condition of obstetric fistulation with social consequences overriding the medical condition itself (WHO). It is the leading cause of maternal morbidity in Africa and Asia. Their mental health state is affected and causes them to isolate. They either have fear of rejection or feel economically disempowered. This is the reason it is a free service for women and girls.  Health professionals will be employed to provide early consultation services and medical treatment to those in need. Counsellors will also provide counselling services to those with mental health issues resulting from ostracism and loneliness. Training will be provided to health professionals, women and children on how to use the access platform which will be tailored to local preferences such as being language friendly.

Service design, testing and piloting involves a group of IT professionals hired to work on the design and creation of a standard remote service that connects Obstetric Fistula patients with health and medical professionals. Administrators and management will oversee tasks related to medical supplies, assisting with registrations, appointment booking among others. Staff and management would be predominantly women as the condition affects women and young girls. There is an off-site and on-site facility for those that may not be able to afford travel as research conducted indicated transportation to the treatment centers is too expensive for them. The free service will employ and train professionals and volunteers alike to act as community representatives. Most of these underserved communities also lack toilet facilities and a major symptom of the condition is urine and faecal incontinence. The establishment of toilet facilities in communities will help control improper sanitation and improve the personal hygiene of the women.

Efua, an affected woman from Ghana indicates ''we are suffering and access to transport is difficult and expensive''. Please help intervene. Prior and current research undertaken shows that they have limited access to transport and where transport exists, it is too expensive. To make matters worse, the hospital and treatment centers are very far from them worsening their condition. As there are not enough start-ups on digital health access, i intend to create awareness for more collaborations in the field. At the start of COVID-19, there were 30% more deaths recorded. Fewer people accessed medical care. Digital health is the bridge towards lack of access to basic healthcare and a healthy productive population to foster global development. My organisations goal is to ensure that women have an honourable social status and are not ostracised for suffering from Obstetric fistulation and related illnesses. It is a preventable disease and further action is needed. Very little recognition has been given to it in healthcare 

I believe the feasible strategic framework at hand should help realise the goals. Also, funding received will help in the identification, growth and scale requirements for local communities. A strong team coupled with continuous provision of communication to partner organisations is to be strengthened.