Using technology to break delivery challenges when administrating health aid meant for refugees in South Africa.
Solutions to barriers to transportation, logistical challenges, poor human resources, and a lack of transparency.
What specific problem(s) are you trying to address?
The innovation am trying to develop will answer the following challenges, that the donor community has faced when administering aid in Africa, The challenges have been barriers to transportation, logistical challenges, poor human resources, and a lack of transparency in the supply chain, as well described by Human Rights watch," December 7, 2009 No Healing Here Violence, Discrimination and Barriers to Health for Migrants in South Africa'' .The DOH has a complicated system of user fees in the public health system, which vary from 20 to 100 percent of the total cost of health care depending on the type of care and the income level of the patient. Documented and undocumented asylum seekers, refugees,have to seek services through other means.What are some of your unanswered questions about the problem(s) you are working to address?
From the top, refugees/migrant persons should have access to Health care free of charge, because of their level of incomes as most are living on hand to mouth, but at the bottom ( health facilities) the situation is different, a refugee has to bribe security guards, nurses to seek health facilities on top of being insulted by health front line workers. So its at this stage that my innovation will address those barriers and come up with a better way of accessing health aid .Explain Your Idea
My innovation involves updating the list of foreign doctors from African countries working in the country and their specialties, to link them to refugees or migrant workers from their country of origin. Most of these doctors have private practices where they meet their private patients, its at these premises where we they can treat their own and then they are refereed to the Government Hospital to collect drugs. These doctors have an experience of diseases faced by refugees as the burden of disease associated with refugees in host countries, has been met with the doctors prior to coming in the host country. The system will reflect immediately and will be interlinked with the system used in the hospitals. In cases of severe illness, still the software will indicate the days when the major treatment or surgery will be conducted by the Doctors on duty. What the government pays for patients will still be paid to the doctors through their salaries, the same way private ambulances operate. We can also add a small fee for the doctor, something like 2 Us dollars for administration which is affordable by refugees and asylum seekers.Name the three most important ways that your idea will address your identified problem(s).
1) It will address the racist, xenophobic utterances experienced in hospital where refugees access Health services. 2) It will overcome communication gaps experienced by Front line health workers as some refugees come from Francophone, Arabic countries and can not communicate matters of reproductive health easily in English.How is your idea unique?
My idea is unique in the sense that , the innovation can provide more potential that provides more options. This can be elaborated further that even if the original idea fails, the capabilities and insights generated could lead to many other opportunities . For example with the funds available , we can invest in broader capabilities like healthcare information administration, delivery and administration of aid in conflict areas. This idea is not the fist of its kind, but lack of data in Africa has proved to be a challenge, but it has been used in China and Bangladesh. The other problem related to data is there is no successful country in Africa with so many indigenous tribes that has a successful health system. Developed countries are united with a common language spoken by all people unlike in Africa.What are some outstanding concerns or questions that you have regarding your idea?
My innovation is anticipating how the local communities will react when refugees and asylum seekers are seeking health services from their own folks in country full of xenophobic sentiments. The other concern is the department of health (DOH) and other stakeholders weather they will support the initiative throughout the whole cycle.Who are your end users?
My end users will be women and girls from the refugee /asylum seekers section in the country.It is the women and girls who suffer the brunt of endless racism and xenophobic utterances as they seek health services in public health centers. The innovation will craete the following benefits: a) provide refugees with a platform on which they can share there ideas. b) increase community engagement of refugees and adolescent women/girls. c)provide an accessible platform for refugees to be producers of information not consumers. This project will target refugees / asylum seekers in the provinces of Northwest and Limpopo aged between 14- 49. The project will look at 4000 refugees for the whole year.Where will your idea be implemented?
- South Africa
What is the primary type of emergency setting where your innovation would operate?
- Armed conflict
- Prolonged displacement
- Community at risk of disaster
Tell us more about the emergency setting that you intend to implement in
The south African department of health has affirmed the rights of asylum seekers and migrants to seek health care, but health care workers repeatedly violated that provision and discriminated patients on the basis of their nationality or lack of proper documents. The delayed or denied treatment of migrant health threatens to further strain the country's already stretched system. We need also to remind our selves about the coming elections wheaten the incoming local governments will support us.What is your organization's name?
Allied Migrant Forum saTell us more about you.
We are an organisation and we have a team ready to roll out this challenge. Our past work include, we negotiated with local groups within the province under the supervision of Department of Public Health in the province to put an end to the xenophobic attacks that engulfed the country in 2016-17.Organizational Characteristics
- Women-led organization
- Displaced person / refugee-led organization
- Locally/community-led organization
What is the current scale of your proposed innovation?
- Still in planning phase and does not exist yet
Experience in Implementation Country(ies)
- Yes, for less than one year.
Expertise in Sector
- Yes, for more than a year.
Organization Location
Northwest province - South AfricaWhat is your organizational status?
- Registered non-profit, charity, NGO, or community-based organization.
What is the maturity of your innovation?
- Existing Prototype or Pilot: Tested a part of my solution with users and am iterating.
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CommentEunice Kajala
Joseph Asiiwa
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Joseph Asiiwa
Eunice Kajala
Eunice Kajala
Joseph Asiiwa