SIU Newsletter June 2020 - Climate Anticipation, Cold Chain Innovations and Digital Health for MSFs COVID-19 Response
Stubborn Optimism
Optimism, in its most effective form, is by no means soft - it is a gritty and realistic determination in the face of adversity. Or, as cited in 'The Future We Choose' by leading Paris Climate Agreement negotiator, Christiana Figueres, optimism is less a state of the world, and more so a state of mind. Navigating COVID-19, forging unprecedented collaborations, and exploring essential innovations requires just that - stubborn optimism.
As the world turns to virtual means to maintain a connection with physically distant loved ones and colleagues, MSF decided to go ahead with our annual Scientific Days and add to your virtual diary. MSF Scientific Days bring together researchers, clinical practitioners, and patients to share insights and learnings to improve humanitarian health outcomes of the future. Whether you are a part of MSF or not you can REGISTER HERE to listen in on May 13th and 14th and hear the cutting edge presentations and pose any burning questions you may have.
Read on for this month's updates including how MSF is navigating digital health solutions for humanitarian and global health settings and a new method for ensuring cold chains support the optimal transfer of essential medicines.
Innovation Highlights from the MSF Movement
Case One - The MSF Meteorological and Climatic Anticipation (MACA) System
MSF profoundly recognizes that the growing prevalence of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, has the power to amplify forced migration and the frequency of all forms of humanitarian crises that we typically respond to. With this realization, MSF has been engaged in a number of climate-related efforts in recent years to both mitigate against our impact on the climate crisis and adapt our ways of working to better tackle new requirements.
Status: Over the last few months MACA, led by project manager Léo Tremblay of MSF Toronto, investigated the need for weather and climate intelligence within MSF all the while searching for available external solutions. In tandem, the team provides direct support to operations like regular rain forecasts during flood interventions, investigation of the role of weather in COVID-19 transmission rates, and in the spread of locust swarms.
Next steps: Approaching the end of this first phase of the MACA investigation, the team leading this are now finalizing the deliverables which are made to be as operational as possible: seasonal emergency calendars, tools to monitor extreme weather events, risk maps by country, etc. If you are working in operations and would like to have cues on how to better anticipate crises connected to the weather, we would love to hear from you.
En route to a mobile clinic site in the village of Cagarwayne, Ethiopia. Locals surround the puddles with thorn bushes so that cars do not drive through and contaminate the water further. The nomadic families in the area use this source for drinking water, to water their livestock, and to prepare food and tea for their families.
Case Two - Cold Chain Indicators
The cold chain process ensures that vaccines, medicines, and laboratory products are not exposed to too high or too low temperatures. Together with Operational Centre Amsterdam’s Logistic Department and other partners, MSF Sweden Innovation Unit has explored different alternatives and solutions that can improve the cold chain process of the future.
Status: The CCI project has come a long way - it has not all been smooth running since its inception over five years ago. Initially started as a scoping exercise led by the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit (SIU) for the logistics department of the MSF Operational Centre in Amsterdam (OCA) the aim was to investigate where there might be gaps in the current monitoring system of the cold chain — the process of transporting and storing vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other thermosensitive items between 2-8C from the manufacturer to the final use at field level. After a long and arduous adventure, we are delighted to share our learnings as we near commercialisation.
Next steps: We recently received the latest version of the CCIs and are now looking for its first 'client' to commission an order of the indicators. However, the reality is that some unknowns are still present, hindering the first steps into wider adoption including definitive performance validation evidence and cost limitations. Despite these remaining hurdles it must be flagged that frankly, the stage this initiative has reached is objectively unusual for many humanitarian innovations in recent years in terms of commercial opportunity. Interested in learning more about the path to get to this point? READ THE FULL BLOG HERE >
An early prototype for the Cold Chain Indicators Innovation Case. A necessary innovation for the safe transfer of vaccines in low-resource settings and a case that has achieved great success nearing commercialisation.
Case Three - Digital Health Innovations for MSF Response
As the demand for more widespread support from MSF and other humanitarian actors grows, in tandem with a demand for more intelligent monitoring systems and increased access to care, it is clear that there is a significant opportunity to be found in the maturing digital health space. The MSF Sweden Innovation Unit is delighted to launch the new Digital Health Case. This Innovation Case is being launched with a short term view to understanding the opportunity for digital health solutions that MSF may leverage in augmenting our response to COVID-19 globally, but also with an added understanding that it is likely the demand for such digital health innovations will be longstanding post-COVID.
Status: The Digital Health Case was initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic announcement. Since its launch, the SIU has been connecting with MSF experts globally who are working on various forms of digital health including Telemedicine, Digitally Enabled Community Health, and Remote Patient Monitoring to verify our approach and gather insights from our internal stakeholders.
Next Steps: We are working hard to create a central data source of all relevant digital health solutions that may be relevant to support MSF's global response to COVID-19 in addition to generating an in-depth report on the key recommendations for MSF's digital health engagement across the ecosystem.
If you know of any digital health solutions that may be relevant please SUBMIT THE SOLUTION DETAILS HERE for our team to review.
While we prepare these digital health insights all members of MSF may access a newly launched TELEMEDICINE RESOURCE ON SHAREPOINT HERE >
Above: Video from the live series of COVID-19 related conversations by MSF-USA Executive Director Avril Benoît in conversation with MSF aid workers and emergency physicians Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim and Dr. Craig Spencer. Watch to hear about transferrable learnings from responding to an Ebola outbreak in West Africa, providing care for displaced people in places like South Sudan and Lebanon, working in conflict settings such as Raqqa, Syria, and MSF’s medical search and rescue ship on the Mediterranean Sea.
What We're Listening to
The MSF Scientific Days: The annual global gathering of MSFers will take place virtually this year. MSF Scientific Days bring together researchers, practitioners, academics and patient representatives to catalyse improvements in the quality of care provided to patients and populations at risk. REGISTER HERE to listen in to the presentations, panels discussions, and more.
Outrage and Optimism Podcast - Coronavirus and Climate Crisis: During COVID-19 we have seen significant emissions drops as whole populations work from home and flights are grounded. The US ALONE IS CURRENTLY ON TRACK FOR ITS LARGEST EMISSIONS DECREASE ON THE HISTORICAL RECORD, ABOUT 7%, but can we sustain lasting impact spurred by this pandemic? LISTEN TO OUTRAGE AND OPTIMISM HERE for weekly dialogue on all things climate change and current affairs.
Until Next Time 👋
Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments on siu@stockholm.msf.org - we'd be delighted to continue the conversation whether you are a part of MSF and looking to accelerate an innovative idea for a field challenge, or working outside of MSF and eager to share your thoughts on global health innovations.
Thanks for reading and stay safe!