[SHE] Team Updates!!

By Joya Banerjee

Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE Innovates)

Description: Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) uses market-based approaches to jump start businesses that yield a social and financial return on investment in developing countries, especially in the health sector. Its first spin-out business is sanitary pad franchising to stem the significant costs of girls and women not having access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads when they menstruate.

Team Members:
Christina Lagos (GHP)
Joya Banerjee (GHP)
Jamie Zweibel (SHDH)
Melody Eckardt (GHP)

Organization Leader: Elizabeth Scharpf

Project Scope: The HSPH team is working on the launch phase of the first venture, sanitary napkins in Rwanda. We hope to propose a method of introducing the product and a distribution model that will be effective in rural and urban areas.

Deliverables:

• Determine what type of education and/or curriculum should accompany the distribution of sanitary pads
• Research existing educational methods for hygiene practices and organizations that are running these kinds of programs.
• Research potential barriers to purchase and use of sanitary pads apart from financial constraints.
• Identify ways to address these in a culturally appropriate manner
  Research and propose successful approaches to talking about taboo issues
• Propose a advocacy & fundraising campaign for the United States focused on the problem (missing school/ work due to lack of access to sanitary supplies and the unsustainability of donation-based approaches)
• Create media coverage of the venture in MA and at Harvard
• Propose an advocacy campaign for Rwanda to create a demand market
• Analyze data from Rwanda Survey and explore possibilities for publishing
• Determine whether or not outside organizations such as PSI be involved
• Research negative health outcomes from use of raw materials as sanitary products

[WiRED-ITN] Team Updates!

WiRED International Telemedicine Network (ITN)

Objective: To provide online Continuous Medical Education to Doctors in developing countries (Kenya and Uganda to be studied in this project)

Updates: ITN team seeks to provide CME to doctors in developing countries. They have past experiences doing so in Iraq and are studying how to provide related services in Africa. The scope of the project involves understanding models of online CME that exist already as well as understanding the target consumers better.

Expected Deliverables:
· Report on current trends in CME utilization in Kenya
· Sample CME module

Team Members: Veronica Ades, Francis Kiweewa, Beatrice Kariuki (Team Leader), Neel Butala (FAS), Adriana Benedict (FAS)
Mentors: Gary Selnow (WiRED), Chris Spirito (Mitre), Chris Dippel (HST939), Paul Heinzelmann (Center for Connected Health), Heather Bellow (Center for Connected Health)

[Nicaragua] Updates!

Nicaragua Centro Promocional Cristiano

Objectives: To develop sustainable long-term financial plans and microfinance models to support a medical clinic in Nicaragua

Updates!! Since our group first met in February, we have been communicating with the clinic in Nicaragua and formulating our deliverables. After a preliminary investigation into the clinic's financial and operational functions, our group identified two main objectives. First, to help find sources of grants or loans to help the clinic survive financially. Second, to research and analyze succesful clinics (best practices) that are sustainable and employ the social model of medicine in order to serve as guidance for the CPC clinic. With the presentation of these two deliverables, we hope that the CPC clinic will be able to make sound decisions with the goal of becoming a sustainable clinic that serves the under-privileged.

Organization Leader: Jamie Zwiebel
Team Members: Olulade Ayodele, Allison Ettenger, Tobi Ogbechi, Keren Shani (Team Leader)

Blueprint for Health 2008-09

Welcome and Recap:

Over 10 organizations offering 15+ projects joined us at the kick-off/info session in December. Nearly 80 students participated.



Applications were due before winter break and selection results were announced in January 2009.

A welcome/introductory mixer was held on Feb 10th, 2009.

Individual team meetings with organization reps were completed between Feb 2nd and 16th. Timeline/deliverables were drafted.

Here on teams will update their deliverables online on a regular basis, with the anticipated end date in mid-May. Check back for team postings!