What are the common personal goals among the members of your team, and how can you leverage those goals to build collaboration?

 

Within our team, several shared personal goals drive us towards collaboration:

 

1. Enhancing Collaboration and Communication Skills: We recognize the importance of effective communication and teamwork in achieving our collective objectives. By improving our ability to communicate clearly and collaborate seamlessly, we can enhance productivity and achieve better outcomes.
2.  Mastering Delegation and Task Distribution: Learning how to delegate tasks efficiently and distribute responsibilities among team members is crucial for optimizing our workflow. By honing these skills, we can ensure that tasks are completed promptly and everyone contributes to the team’s success.
3. Fostering Personal and Professional Development: Each team member is committed to continuous personal and professional growth. By investing in our individual development, we not only improve our skills and knowledge but also contribute to the overall advancement of the team.
4. Refining Idea Projection and Sharing Skills: We understand the importance of effectively conveying our ideas and perspectives to others. By developing the ability to articulate our thoughts accurately and share them efficiently, we can facilitate better collaboration and innovation within the team.

 

Achieving these personal goals signifies a collective improvement in our team’s efficiency and effectiveness. As we strive to enhance our collaboration and communication, we aim to create a dynamic environment where everyone’s skills and strengths are valued, and tasks are allocated effectively to maximize productivity.

 

What are the common project goals among the members of your team, and how can you leverage those goals to make progress?

1. Improving healthcare outcomes in Sierra Leone.
2. Enhancing healthcare worker knowledge and skills.
3. Increasing accessibility to healthcare education.
4. Empowering healthcare workers to deliver quality care.

 

We can use our goals to guide us towards:

• Establishing clear communication channels, ensuring that all team members are aligned with the project goals and understand their roles in achieving them. Fostering collaboration, by working together, we can address challenges more effectively and capitalize on opportunities for innovation.
• Setting SMART objectives, breakig down overarching project goals into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives. This helps to create a roadmap for progress and allows team members to track their contributions.

 

What are some biases that might become a barrier to your project goals?

 

• Cultural Bias: Assumptions or preferences based on one’s own cultural background may influence the design and implementation of the project.
• Technological Bias: Overreliance on technology or assumptions about access to digital devices and internet connectivity may overlook the reality of limited resources and infrastructure in certain areas, hindering the accessibility of the educational platform.
• Socioeconomic Bias: Biases related to socioeconomic status may influence perceptions of the importance or priority of healthcare education initiatives.

 

What type of decision-making system will you use and why?

For the AISHA project, implementing a decentralized decision-making system would be most effective. Here’s why:

• Flexibility and Adaptability: A decentralized decision-making system allows for flexibility and adaptability to local contexts and needs. In a project like AISHA, where healthcare practices and challenges can vary widely between different regions and communities in Sierra Leone, decentralized decision-making enables on-the-ground stakeholders to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
• Empowerment and Ownership: By decentralizing decision-making authority, we empower local healthcare workers, community members, and partner organizations to take ownership of the project and actively participate in its development and implementation. This fosters a sense of ownership and commitment among stakeholders, leading to greater engagement and sustainability.
• Rapid Response to Challenges: Decentralized decision-making allows for rapid response to emerging challenges and opportunities. Local stakeholders are better positioned to identify and address issues as they arise, without having to wait for decisions to be made at higher levels of authority. This agility is crucial in a dynamic and rapidly changing healthcare environment.
• Enhanced Innovation and Creativity: Distributing decision-making authority across multiple levels encourages innovation and creativity. Local stakeholders are empowered to experiment with new ideas, solutions, and approaches tailored to their specific needs and circumstances, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
• Alignment with Participatory Approach: A decentralized decision-making system aligns with the participatory approach central to the AISHA project. By involving all relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process, we ensure that diverse perspectives are considered, leading to more inclusive and equitable outcomes.

 

Overall, a decentralized decision-making system is well-suited to the complex and context-dependent nature of the AISHA project, enabling us to effectively navigate the challenges of healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone while maximizing the impact and sustainability of our efforts.

Based on the feedback we received from our peers, these are some of the things we could have done differently:

Identify FIVE specific things in your slides that you could have done differently.

1. Added more graphs to the slides that included statistics, as the audience claims this is a better visual when discussing numbers
2. Added less text
3. Bigger font
4. Better organisation of content on each slide
5. Moved some slides to the additional info hidden slide, to make room for other things

Identify FIVE specific ways that you could have delivered your presentation better.

1. Looked at the slides less
2. Managed our time better
3. Made more eye contact with the audience
4. Enunciate more
5. Project voice better

Identify FIVE specific ways you could have built your credibility further.

1. More measurable data
2. more info on prices and exact numbers when it comes to the financial side
3. More stats on the need for the project
4. More info on community healthcare worker stories
5. Make it clear who our customers are

Identify FIVE specific questions that you could have answered better. What were the questions, how did you respond, and how should you have responded to each?

1. Why can’t we make this device not rely on Alexa or Amazon at all?
   1. Original Response: Our approach uses an already existing device, and we’re providing the program that Alexa will execute. While the approach suggested is valid, it’s not the most feasible for our context. We’re closer to achieving our goal using Alexa than developing our device and mass-producing it.
   2. Improved Response: While eliminating reliance on Alexa or Amazon is a valid consideration, it’s important to weigh the feasibility and resource implications. Developing our device could entail significant costs and time, potentially delaying our project. However, we can explore ways to reduce reliance on third-party platforms while ensuring the efficient delivery of our solution.
2. How to ensure that there are no liability issues in regard with the usage of the device (ie. the data and answers)
   1. Original Response: Our original response was that there were no liabilities since we were not actively retrieving data.
   2. Improved Response: While it’s true that we’re not actively retrieving data, it’s essential to recognize that liability concerns can still arise, particularly regarding the accuracy of the answers provided by our device. Although we’re not directly responsible for data collection, ensuring the reliability and integrity of the information our device offers is crucial. Implementing clear disclaimers regarding the limitations of our device’s responses can help manage expectations and mitigate potential liability issues. Additionally, maintaining transparency about the sources of information used by our device and providing users with control over their data can further enhance trust and reduce legal risks. Consulting legal experts to assess our liability exposure and refine our risk mitigation strategies is advisable to ensure comprehensive protection.
3. Why not move to something that does not require a cloud but instead a hard drive, therefore eliminating potential internet issues?
   1. Original Response: Since Alexa has a user-friendly developer portal, we can utilize the preexisting hardware and code to mould it into our use.
   2. Improved Response: Moving away from cloud-based solutions to a hard drive system could indeed eliminate internet dependency and associated issues. However, it’s important to consider the trade-offs involved. Utilizing Alexa’s infrastructure allows us to leverage existing hardware and code, saving significant development time and resources. Transitioning to a hard drive system would necessitate building our hardware and devices, potentially leading to increased costs and complexity. Moreover, it might limit our ability to explore and develop additional use cases in the future. While mitigating internet-related risks is crucial, we must carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks of such a shift in our project strategy.
4. How can we ensure that the device is used long term?
   1. Original Response: User manual and flyer promotions, having a person on site.
   2. Improved Response: While user manuals and flyer promotions are valuable for initial adoption, ensuring long-term usage requires a more comprehensive approach. Firstly, we should prioritize user experience design to make the device intuitive and enjoyable to use, reducing the likelihood of abandonment. Additionally, implementing regular software updates and maintenance to address bugs, improve performance, and introduce new features can help maintain user engagement over time. Providing accessible customer support channels, such as online forums, email, or phone assistance, can address user queries and issues promptly, fostering trust and satisfaction. Moreover, establishing community forums or user groups where users can share experiences, tips, and suggestions can cultivate a sense of belonging and encourage continued usage. Conducting periodic surveys or feedback sessions to understand user needs and preferences can also inform iterative improvements, ensuring the device remains relevant and valuable in the long term.
5. How can we address potential privacy concerns related to the use of the device?
   1. Original Response: Implementing robust encryption protocols and user consent mechanisms.
   2. Improved Response: Addressing potential privacy concerns related to the use of the device requires a multifaceted approach. In addition to implementing robust encryption protocols and user consent mechanisms, we should also prioritize transparent data handling practices. This includes clearly communicating to users what data is collected, how it is used, and providing options for users to control their data. Regularly auditing our data handling processes and complying with relevant privacy regulations can further enhance user trust and mitigate privacy risks. Additionally, fostering a culture of privacy awareness within our team and regularly educating users about best practices for protecting their privacy can help build a strong foundation of trust and confidence in our device.

Identify three different primary stakeholders on your project, and come up with a list of 10 distinct questions you would ask each of them. Remember the aspirational/emotional/functional categories of needs and desires and try to find a balance of questions that might give you information in each of those areas.

• Healthcare Workers in Sierra Leone
  • What are your long-term aspirations for improving healthcare delivery in your community?
  • How do you envision technology like AISHA impacting your daily work and the quality of care you provide?
  • What motivates you to continue working in healthcare despite the challenges you face?
  • How do you feel about the current state of healthcare infrastructure and resources in your community?
  • Can you share a specific experience that highlights the emotional impact of inadequate healthcare resources on you or your patients?
  • What emotional support or resources do you feel are lacking in your role as a healthcare worker?
  • What specific challenges do you encounter in diagnosing and treating patients, especially in rural or remote areas?
  • How do you currently access healthcare education and training, and what improvements would you like to see in this area?
  • In what ways do you think AISHA could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in your community?
  • What are the most critical resources or support you need to successfully integrate AISHA into your daily workflow?

• Local Community Members in Sierra Leone
  • What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of healthcare in your community?
  • How do you envision technology like AISHA contributing to the health and well-being of your community members?
  • What long-term goals do you have for improving access to healthcare services in your area?
  • Can you share a personal story or experience that illustrates the emotional impact of limited access to healthcare services in your community?
  • How do you feel about the level of support and resources available to community members who are dealing with health issues?
  • What emotional support or resources do you feel are lacking in your community when it comes to healthcare?
  • What are the biggest challenges you face in accessing healthcare services in your community?
  • How do you currently seek healthcare information or advice, and what barriers do you encounter in this process?
  • In what ways do you think AISHA could improve access to healthcare information and services for community members like yourself?
  • What kind of support or infrastructure do you think is needed to ensure the successful implementation of AISHA in your community?

• Donors or Funding Organizations supporting the AISHA project
  • What are your goals and aspirations for supporting healthcare projects like AISHA in Sierra Leone?
  • How do you envision your contribution making a long-term impact on healthcare delivery and outcomes in the region?
  • What outcomes or achievements would you like to see as a result of your investment in the AISHA project?
  • What emotions or values drive your commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives in underserved regions like Sierra Leone?
  • Can you share a personal story or experience that motivates your involvement in philanthropic efforts related to healthcare?
  • How do you feel about the current state of healthcare funding and resources in developing countries like Sierra Leone?
  • What criteria do you use to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of healthcare projects you support?
  • How do you measure success in terms of return on investment for healthcare projects like AISHA?
  • In what ways do you think AISHA aligns with your organization’s mission and values?
  • What kind of support or resources do you believe are essential for ensuring the sustainability and scalability of projects like AISHA in the long term?

Identify all of the key customers for your product/service/creation/solution. List specific ways that you will ensure that your product will meet their aspirational, emotional, and functional needs and desires.

• Healthcare Workers in Sierra Leone:
  • Provide comprehensive training and education through AISHA to empower healthcare workers to aspire to deliver better care and improve health outcomes in their communities.
  • Offer support resources and platforms for healthcare workers to share experiences, seek guidance, and connect with peers, addressing the emotional challenges they face in their roles.
  • Ensure AISHA is user-friendly, accessible, and provides practical solutions to healthcare challenges faced by workers, such as aiding in diagnosis, treatment adherence, and patient management.

• Local Community Members in Sierra Leone:
  • Engage community members in the development and implementation of AISHA to ensure their aspirations for improved healthcare access and outcomes are heard and addressed.
  • Create culturally sensitive and empathetic content on AISHA that acknowledges the emotional impact of healthcare issues on community members and offers support and guidance.
  • Design AISHA to be accessible via mobile devices and smart speakers, providing community members with convenient access to healthcare information, resources, and support services.

• Donors or Funding Organizations:
  • Communicate the long-term impact and value proposition of AISHA in improving healthcare delivery, reducing mortality rates, and empowering communities, aligning with the aspirational goals of donors and funding organizations.
  • Share compelling stories and testimonials from healthcare workers and community members impacted by AISHA, evoking emotions and highlighting the human impact of the project.
  • Provide transparent reporting and monitoring mechanisms to demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of AISHA in achieving its objectives and maximizing the return on investment for donors and funding organizations.

 

Articulate your value propositions for each of your customer segments (using the format presented in class).

• For Healthcare workers in Sierra Leone who aspire for better healthcare education, our AISHA platform provides comprehensive healthcare education and answers that empower them to deliver better are, adhere to clinical guidelines and improve health outcomes in their communities.
• For local community members in Sierra Leone who has struggled with the healthcare system in rural Sierra Leone, our AISHA platform provides accessible healthcare information and resources that promote healthcare workers to make informed decisions about their health to improve patient outcomes and to reduce preventable deaths.
• For Donors or Funding organziations who are funding the AISHA projects, our platform provides transparent reporting and monitoring mechanisms, that demonstrates the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of the project in achieving its objectives and maximizing return on investment for donors and funding organizations.

 

What are the technological, social, economic, and political trends that will impact (help or hurt) your ventures?

• Technological trends
  • Advancements in AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies could enhance the capabilities of AISHA, making it more efficient and effective in delivering healthcare education and support.
  • Increased adoption of voice-enabled devices and smart speakers could expand the reach of AISHA to more healthcare workers and community members, especially in rural or remote areas.
  • Improvements in mobile connectivity and internet infrastructure could improve access to the AISHA platform, enabling healthcare workers and community members to access information and resources more easily.
• Social Trends
  • Growing awareness and demand for healthcare education and resources among underserved communities could drive the adoption of AISHA as a valuable tool for improving health literacy and outcomes.
  • Increased emphasis on community empowerment and participatory approaches in healthcare delivery could support the integration of AISHA into existing community health programs and initiatives.
  • Changing social norms and attitudes towards technology and healthcare could influence the acceptance and utilization of AISHA among healthcare workers and community members.
• Political trends
  • Changes in government policies and regulations related to healthcare and technology could affect the regulatory environment and framework within which AISHA operates.
  • Government support and investment in healthcare infrastructure and technology could facilitate the integration and adoption of AISHA within the national healthcare system.
• Economic trends
  • Fluctuations in funding and investment in healthcare projects and initiatives could impact the resources available for scaling and sustaining the AISHA project over the long term.
  • Economic disparities and resource constraints in low-income countries like Sierra Leone could affect the affordability and accessibility of technologies required for implementing and maintaining AISHA.
  • Economic development and growth in Sierra Leone could create opportunities for public-private partnerships and collaborations to support the expansion and sustainability of AISHA.

 

What is the Total Available Market and Total Addressable Market for your product or service?

• Total Available Market 

• • The total population of Sierra Leone, as well as the total number of healthcare workers in the country who could potentially benefit from the AISHA platform. According to the World Bank, as of 2021, the population of Sierra Leone was approximately 8 million people. Additionally, Sierra Leone has a healthcare workforce that includes doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers, among others.
• Total Addressable Market
  • The Total Addressable Market for AISHA would then be the total number of PHUs in Makeni that could potentially benefit from the AISHA platform. This would include all primary healthcare facilities in the Makeni area, such as clinics, health centres, and dispensaries, where healthcare workers are providing frontline care to the local community.

• Give three examples of something very interesting you learned from a friend that was a completely alien concept to you.

 

1. A friend of mine taught me how to drive, essentially bestowing on me the keys to independence. It was an enlightening experience as that has served as a foundational teaching that will certainly be of use in the future.

 

2. My friend taught me photography by showing me composition and lighting techniques, encouraging me to experiment with camera settings and unleash my creativity.

 

3. Back in high school, a close friend of mine introduced me to the gym. He explained how it was about more than simply lifting heavy, but rather maintaining a decent diet and consistency. To me, it was astounding that diet mattered so much as I always thought that lifting heavy was the key to building muscle.

 

• List ten things that make you feel human.

 

1. Sunlight
2. Music
3. Socializing
4. Movies
5. Daytime Naps
6. Nature
7. Driving
8. Fiction Novels
9. Family
10. Laughter

 

• Articulate your philosophy of engagement as it pertains to your work with the Impact Fellowship. Specifically discuss:
  1. Why should I engage?

Engaging with the belief in the potency of education, I advocate for leveraging AI to grant healthcare workers in Sierra Leone’s PHUs access to essential knowledge. This initiative empowers them to enhance community care, emphasizing the importance of accessible healthcare education for all, regardless of location or educational background.

 

1. How must I engage?

To effectively engage, prioritizing accessibility, inclusivity, collaboration, continuous improvement, respect for cultural context, and ethical considerations is crucial. This entails ensuring that educational content is easily accessible to all healthcare workers, irrespective of their location or background. Additionally, it involves fostering a collaborative learning environment where healthcare workers actively participate, rooted in a commitment to continuous improvement, cultural sensitivity, and ethical practice in delivering accurate, relevant, and transparent educational content.

 

1. With whom must I engage?

We’re actively working with different parties involved in healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone, such as healthcare workers, local authorities, community leaders, and possibly international organizations or NGOs present in the region.

 

1. What kinds of challenges, opportunities, and approaches should I care about?

Challenges: Handling cultural sensitivities, confronting language barriers, and ensuring technological reach in remote locales.

 

Opportunities: Nurturing sustainable healthcare practices, exploiting AI to fill healthcare education voids, and empowering local communities.

 

Approaches: Involving participatory design methodologies, and adopting community-driven decision-making.

 

1. How might I uphold the core principles of ethical engagement that were discussed in class?

Respecting the independence and privacy of healthcare workers, ensuring their voluntary and informed participation, and maintaining confidentiality of their personal information are crucial aspects of ethical engagement. Additionally, providing accurate and culturally sensitive educational material is essential. It’s equally important to be transparent about the project’s objectives and potential impacts, solicit feedback from all stakeholders, and address any worries or ethical issues that arise.

 

1. What might my epitaph read?

“Here lies Maaz Tanveer, a friend; brother; son. He lived and experienced this life to the fullest, and now he rests.”

 

1. Questions

• How can we procure funds?
• What is holding us back/ What is unsustainable about our current method?
• How can we get direct feedback from citizens?
• How can we measure impact?
• How can we ensure long-term impact?
• What is considered sustainable?
• How can we overcome the cultural gap?
• What cultural challenges may threaten the sustainability of our project?
• How can we get locals to use our resources?
• What previous advancements have been made towards sustainable impact?
• How many devices are needed to cover the region/country?
• How will we solve connectivity issues?
• How will we overcome the language barrier?
• Is there a term for “sustainability” in Krio?
• How can we form meaningful bonds with locals?

2. Logistic Model

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Does your work require IRB approvals…right now? At a later stage? If Yes, articulate your detailed IRB strategy. If No, explain why you don’t need IRB approval and identify situations when you might need IRB approval

No, we do not require IRB approval, because of the following reasons:

• No Research Involving Human Subjects: AISHA strives to educate healthcare workers using Alexa, and the interaction is not research-based but rather educational in nature, therefore it doesn’t constitute research involving human subjects. Instead, it could be considered a form of training or knowledge dissemination.
• No Data Collection or Research Data: AISHA doesn’t collect data from participants for research purposes.
• No Risk to Participants: The use of AISHA devices doesn’t pose any risk to the healthcare workers or patients, physically, mentally, or socially, therefore IRB oversight isn’t necessary. This is especially relevant if the information being shared is basic healthcare knowledge and not experimental or potentially harmful.

Based on your life experience, skills, and interests, what would a design process that is both uniquely yours and effective look like?

• Reflection:  What went wrong/ what needs fixing? What are the challenges faced and the solutions to them?
• Brainstorm/Ideate: Solutions to these problems (Translation, case users)
• Research: Research on solutions (power, language)
• Prototype/ troubleshooting: How well does the code work? etc
• Test: Testing and trying to use it at home before implementing it in fieldwork
• Implementation: In fieldwork
• Feedback: from the people using AISHA answers and stakeholders

Identify your three most important stakeholders and list five UNIQUE attributes for each.

• Customer: PHOs in Sierra Leone Makeni (not paying)
  1. Local Expertise: They possess intimate knowledge of the community’s healthcare needs and challenges.\
  2. Resource Constraints: Limited budget and resources available for healthcare initiatives.
  3. Cultural Sensitivity: Understand the cultural nuances and beliefs that may impact healthcare practices.
  4. Government Relations: Interface with local government bodies and navigate bureaucratic processes.
  5. Community Trust: Establish trust within the community through continuous engagement and service delivery.
• Consumer: Medical professionals (nurses) in Sierra Leone
  1. Frontline Experience: Directly involved in patient care and treatment, often facing challenging conditions.
  2. Training Needs: There is a continuous need for training and skill development to keep up with evolving medical practices.
  3. Patient Advocacy: Act as advocates for patients, ensuring their voices are heard in healthcare decision-making.
  4. Resourcefulness: Often work with limited resources, requiring improvisation and creative solutions.
  5. Emotional Resilience: Regularly deal with emotionally taxing situations, requiring strong coping mechanisms.
• Public Health Bureau
  1. Policy Formulation: Responsible for developing and implementing public health policies at a national or regional level.
  2. Epidemiological Surveillance: Monitor disease outbreaks and trends to inform public health interventions.
  3. Resource Allocation: Allocate funds and resources to different health programs based on priority and need.
  4. Collaborative Partnerships: Work with various stakeholders including NGOs, international organizations, and communities.
  5. Health Education: Engage in public health campaigns and educational initiatives to promote healthy behaviors and disease prevention

Identify three ways in which you will validate your project concept, technology, usability and business model. 

• Concept:
  • Has something similar been done successfully?
  • What are we doing differently than projects that failed?
  • How have we grown/has our concept improved?
• Technology:
  • If we can have to develop and publish AISHA Answers 1.0
  • If we can  overcome power and internet access in Sierra Leone
• Usability:
  • If it is being used (number of catches)
  • Final implementation of our device in a clinical environment
• Business model:
  • Is our budget realistic?
  • Will we be able to reach our goal within a certain time frame?
  • If our propositions are measurable?
  • Does it solve a real burning problem?
  • How do they solve the problem now?
  • What financial resources and burdens do they have?
  • How much are customers willing to pay?
  • Is the business economically sustainable? (What are your start-up and recurring costs?)
  • What is your competitive advantage versus other ventures?

Identify 3-5 major accomplishments projected for Spring / Summer 2024:

• Have a reliable base code in English (AISHA 1.0)
• Solve the connectivity + electricity issue
• Acquiring the locals’ trust in the AISHA project
• Procuring funding for the project.

1. Questions

• How can we procure funds?
• What is holding us back/ What is unsustainable about our current method?
• How can we get direct feedback from citizens?
• How can we measure impact?
• How can we ensure long-term impact?
• What is considered sustainable?
• How can we overcome the cultural gap?
• What cultural challenges may threaten the sustainability of our project?
• How can we get locals to use our resources?
• What previous advancements have been made towards sustainable impact?
• How many devices are needed to cover the region/country?
• How will we solve connectivity issues?
• How will we overcome the language barrier?
• Is there a term for “sustainability” in Krio?
• How can we form meaningful bonds with locals?

3. Plan for Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring:

1. Conduct initial assessments to establish the current status of healthcare worker knowledge, adherence to protocols, and patient outcomes in Sierra Leone.
2. Identify and address primary issues within Sierra Leone.
3. Resolve code issues and refine troubleshooting processes.
4. Continuously monitor the utilization of AISHA’s various functionalities (Answers, Lessons).
5. Address power and connectivity challenges.

Evaluation Activities:

1. Increase awareness and comprehension of AISHA among healthcare workers and communities.
2. Enhance access to health education and information for healthcare workers through AISHA Answers and Lessons.
3. Gather initial feedback on the usability and effectiveness of AISHA’s educational content and system features, based on fieldwork experience and direct input.
4. Improve the efficiency of healthcare service delivery and resource management in rural clinics.
5. Strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver quality care and education to their communities.
6. Ensure the sustainable integration of AISHA into the healthcare system, promoting widespread adoption and continued usage over time.

 

By executing this strategy, the AISHA project can systematically monitor advancements, evaluate the impact, and consistently enhance its initiatives towards realizing its overarching objectives of enhancing healthcare provision in Sierra Leone.

 

1. What SDGs does your project target? What might be reasonable indicators for those SDGs?

•  Good health and wellbeing

• • Indicator 3.1: “By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births”
    • maternal mortality ratio
    • proportion of births attended by Skilled health personnel
  • Indicator 3. c Training of healthcare workforce in developing countries
• 17 Global partnership:
  • Indicator 17.6- enhance access to science, technology, and innovation in developing countries
  • Indicator 17.6.1  Fixed Internet broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
• 4 Quality education (healthcare workers) 
  • Indicator 4.c.1 Proportion of teachers(healthcare) with the minimum required qualifications, by education level
  • 4.7.1 Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education and (d) student assessment
  • 4.4.1 Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill 

The AISHA project aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. The project contributes to SDG 3 by targeting key indicators such as the reduction of the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births (Indicator 3.1). Additionally, AISHA addresses the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel, emphasizing the importance of skilled assistance during childbirth. The initiative extends its impact to SDG 17: Global Partnership, particularly focusing on Indicator 17.6 to enhance access to science, technology, and innovation in developing countries. Moreover, AISHA aims to improve the training of the healthcare workforce in developing countries, aligning with the broader goal of building strong, resilient health systems. In the realm of SDG 4: Quality Education, AISHA contributes by targeting indicators such as the proportion of healthcare teachers with the minimum required qualifications (Indicator 4.c.1) and the extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in national education policies and curricula (Indicator 4.7.1). Additionally, the project addresses ICT skills among youth and adults, focusing on the proportion of information and communications technology skills (Indicator 4.4.1). By strategically aligning with these SDGs and corresponding indicators, AISHA aims to make a meaningful impact on health, education, and global partnerships in Sierra Leone.

 

 2. Crystallize the larger challenge your venture seeks to address, the specific problems you are targeting, and the kinds of opportunities you hope to leverage.

• Grand Challenge: Ineffective healthcare practices that lead to preventable deaths., specifically maternal health, preeclampsia
• Megatrend: Rise of AI, technology, peer platform, digitalization  
• Dream at what context: using the existing device (Alexa) to help educate local healthcare workers to comply with healthcare protocols and to communicate in both English and Krio. 
• Specific problem: Community health workers do not get proper education due to not having proper access to healthcare education; compliance to healthcare protocols 
• Specific opportunities: Everyone can access AISHA on their cell phones; able to process huge datasets, available in any language, able to answer complex questions and describe complex procedures
• Specific actionable opportunities: Alexa devices can be implemented in facilities (Internet access is getting easier, the rise of AI, conversational culture, Alexa technology), and healthcare workers can ask simple questions

 

The venture addresses the grand challenge of ineffective healthcare practices leading to preventable deaths, with a specific focus on maternal health and preeclampsia. In the context of the rising megatrend of AI, technology, peer platforms, and digitalization, the dream is to utilize existing devices, such as Alexa, to educate local healthcare workers, ensuring compliance with healthcare protocols and facilitating communication in both English and Krio. The specific problem being tackled is the lack of proper education for community health workers due to limited access to healthcare education resources, leading to non-compliance with healthcare protocols. The opportunities lie in the accessibility of AISHA through cell phones, its ability to process vast datasets, its availability in multiple languages, and the capacity to answer complex questions and describe intricate medical procedures. Actionable opportunities include the implementation of Alexa devices in healthcare facilities, leveraging the increasing ease of internet access, the growing prevalence of AI, the emerging conversational culture, and the advanced technology of Alexa. Healthcare workers can easily pose simple questions, enhancing their knowledge and adherence to protocols.

 

3. Identify the two most important social, economic, and environmental bottom lines that matter to your project.

1. 1. Social
      1. healthcare education and quality 
      2. Community empowerment and education 
   2. Economic
      1. Bring an innovative application of a cheap device that contributes to filling a gap created primarily by economic disparity
      2. Effective resource management in healthcare 
      3. Economic empowerment through education
   3. Environmental
      1. Technology-Driven Environmental Impact
      2. Language Accessibility and Inclusivity
   4. Purpose 
      1. Improving healthcare practices.
      2. Innovating and applying machine learning to healthcare practices

 

4. Describe ten cultural factors that might impact your project at various phases in its lifecycle.

1. 1. Language Barrier
   2. Lack of trust 
   3. Limited technology literacy
   4. Traditional Beliefs and Practices
   5. Limited access to the internet
   6. Conversational vernacular may cause a disconnect between ai and user
   7. Healthcare stigma 
   8. Community participation 
   9. Gender Dynamics in Sierra Leonean culture
   10. Culture of community decision making

1. Why did you enroll in this course (motivation, prior interests)?

Since many years, I have always been intrigued by Africa, and in specific, Sierra Leone. Upon watching the movie Blood Diamond as a child, I came to know of the countless tragedies that Sierra Leone’s people have endured for decades, their saddening history, and their identity as a people. When I was applying to Lehigh University, I came across this course that offered students an opportunity to effectively contribute to their country and, instantly, I was motivated. If I can even slightly ease the burdens that Sierra Leone’s people face, I will do it with all my strength.

2. How do you envision this course making you a better (<your major>) student?

I anticipate that this course will take me to new heights as an engineering student. AISHA is a project that is very close to my heart and it offers me the opportunity to develop basic skills as a programmer and will allow me to excel in the realm of computer science. As I currently plan to pursue Computer Science as a major, this is a wonderful chance for me to build a solid foundation in AI and observe the complexities of the subject while simultaneously having a positive impact on an entire society therefore benefiting not only me but others as well.

3. The World Health Organization estimates that over one billion people who need eyeglasses do not have access to them. The vast majority of these people live in developing countries like Kenya where there is barely one optometrist per one million people. Given the high poverty levels, access to eyeglasses is almost non-existent. Lack of proper eyeglasses severely impacts people and their livelihoods by decreasing their productivity at work, limiting or eliminating new opportunities, affecting their quality of life, deteriorating their general health, and possibly leading to (preventable) blindness. What solution do you propose to address this problem?

Temporary relief would be the utmost priority which would see developed countries lending optometrists to countries such as Kenya, which are in dire need of it. This could be done by offering financial incentives to such optometrists and encouraging them to indulge themselves in a new culture, effectively impacting millions of people. This would require funding but it would yield a temporary solution in which the lives of millions would be positively affected.

A long-term solution would undoubtedly be the advancement of education in such countries. It is not ideal nor realistic to rely on the aid of foreign healthcare systems permanently and therefore, countries such as Kenya would need to evolve their healthcare systems and produce their doctors, which can only be done through education.

Investment in education would prove extremely beneficial to these countries. In just a few decades, the whole outlook of healthcare could potentially be changed. While this would indeed require funding, healthcare is a vital aspect for every country and it can unequivocally be said that it would be a necessary investment. Initial help from developed countries which might constitute of funding, instructors, and medical facilities would go a long way toward streamlining this process of change. It would be the first step in sculpting a better future for millions.

 

 

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