Sparking Hope: Health

Image by Bill Oxford

About Sparking Hope:

In many ways, the world is at a rather depressing place right at the moment. Before the pandemic, economic inequality, climate change, and more were already threatening the political, economic, and social stability of nations across the world. With the advent of the global pandemic, these issues have not gone away but, rather, have intensified in frightening ways, posing a new challenge to a world already reeling from one major international crisis. 

But it is in the midst of darkness that sparks of hope arise. Across the world, from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the deserts of the Sahara and more, individuals and organizations have been stepping up to the plate, tackling these crises to build a more just and sustainable world. Using both ground-breaking advances in humanitarian technology, from 3D printing to remote sensing and more, and revolutionary strategies in microfinancing, nonprofit organization, and more, new projects worldwide have sprung up to confront the many challenges that humanity now faces. 

Sparking Hope is my feature collection on this blog dedicated to showcasing these new innovative responses to humanitarian crises, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. Throughout this series, we will take a global look at the major trends in humanitarian technology, nonprofit initiatives, and more that are helping tackle some of the greatest problems humanity faces. Join me as we take a tour of humanity's greatest challenges, and focus on what people worldwide are doing to overcome them. For in the darkness, all it takes is a single spark of hope to let the light shine anew.

Feature 2 - Health:

This year has been one of the darkest years for human health in the world. Millions of people have fallen ill and died from COVID-19, and the effects of the pandemic have disrupted access to food, water, and medications across the world. Yet, in this time of darkness, there have also been incredible stories of innovation as communities around the world have risen to help each other and meet the challenge of the pandemic. While it is often common for us to think of innovations as concentrated in the developed world or from large corporations, NGOs and individuals in the developing world have been challenging these predispositions, developing innovations that have the potential to alter the world for the better.

For example, one of the most pressing issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic was the disruption of international and regional supply chains. Thanks to restrictions designed to slow the spread of the pandemic, delivery of needed medical supplies, such as life-saving drugs and vaccines, were disrupted. But in response, innovators stepped up to the plate, like the NGO VillageReach. Based in Sub-Saharan Africa, VillageReach uses drones to ship medical supplies, vaccines, and other tools to developing areas, establishing an aerial supply chain. Their efforts alone have allowed them to immunize hundreds of children in remote villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and other countries throughout the region, helping ensure greater access to needed medical care. Their success is a testament to the power of innovation, even our darkest time, to overcome our most profound challenges.

But elsewhere in the world, innovators in the health field have been busy as well. For example, in India, a country that was hit by an incredibly brutal wave of COVID-19, engineers at AgVa showcased how advancements in technology are not just limited to the most wealthy or developed countries alone. AgVa developed a portable ventilator that was able to take room air and turn it into usable oxygen for patients. The new device even comes with its own app, and most crucially of all, costs nearly 1/10th the price of other ventilators. In this way, AgVa's ventilator can be used across India and the world at a far lower price, enabling more individuals to access ventilators and survive. AgVa's success is a profound display that even in the darkest times, all it takes is a good idea and the will to do it to save lives and better the world.

But even beyond these two companies, there are a host of other NGOs, companies, and innovators across the developing world, paving the way towards a better and healthier future. From culturally sensitive contact tracing in Kenya to low-cost testing in Nigeria, these innovations help us break down our in-built norms about innovation and show the power of humanitarian technology to improve healthcare across the globe. Though none of these solutions are panaceas on their own, and some of them may need more time to be perfected, their existence and the efforts of the people behind them to save lives are truly inspiring for all of us. They, both innovations and innovators, serve as a spark of hope in the darkness, a lantern to lead humanity to a better age.