SIU Newsletter #3 - Infectious Disease Innovations & Igniting Climate Collaboration

Rise.

The decade has opened with some striking healthcare challenges. Wildfires raged in Australia. Torrential rains flooded Indonesia. COVID-19 continues to hold large parts of the world in limbo having been officially announced as a pandemic this week. With these global developments, the healthcare and humanitarian communities are left with a pointed reminder of the need to rethink elements of our go-to response efforts in order to both mitigate against future adverse effects, and also adapt to a reality of new norms. 

The good news is that there is hope to be found both in the collectively shifting mindsets and the development of new tools pointing towards more effective systems. One example at front of mind at the moment is the availability of various tools supporting faster genetic sequencing and improved epidemiological investigations in response to COVID-19. BLUEDOT is one such innovative example of new and emerging opportunities to approach infectious disease outbreaks. It was reported that the BlueDot team used their artificial intelligence-based approaches to identify the outbreak of COVID-19 before the CDC by analysing global airline ticketing data, news sources, and animal and plant disease resources. 

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While this type of progress is inspiring and necessary, for many it also signals the need to integrate innovations into existing systems - identifying an emerging outbreak is no use if it is not enabling improved responses! It is also crucial we continuously remind ourselves where to allocate resources to develop diagnostics, treatment, and services that address threats to the global populations - not just those that are most profitable. 


We have no choice but to rise to the challenges that prevail in health today, and those that will continue to exist once the current pandemic has passed. We must work collaboratively, forge unprecedented paths, translate failures, and share learnings. At the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit, we will continue to work internally with MSF and externally with other humanitarian, academic and industry partners to do just this. 

Read on for more. Onwards and upwards!

MSF SIU Innovation Case Highlights

Case One - Innovation Partnerships Project (IPP)

Status: As an independent humanitarian organisation that fiercely guards its integrity, finding the best way to reconcile MSF’s principles with the commercial interests of potential partners can be difficult. With this in mind, the SIU has embarked on a multi-phase project to better understand the issues that come up frequently in such collaborations and produce material and guidance that will better inform the MSF innovation community on how to avoid common pitfalls and better leverage MSF’s position as a well-respected humanitarian organisation.

Initially launched in 2018, the IPP project has generated many conversations internally and guided an understanding of numerous internal MSF innovators looking to navigate unknown intervention territories. 

Next steps: As a next step in the IPP journey we have produced a series of short videos to help support both MSF innovators and those outside the organisation. We are continuing to disseminate these video insights and the full toolkit internally and welcome anyone interested in tapping into this resource to reach out to us! 

You can now see all videos HERE >

If you work for MSF you also have full access to all other IPP resources on Sharepoint HERE >

EXPLORE THE INNOVATION TOOLKIT NOW

Case Two: Ebola Transportation Optimization

Status: In December we were delighted to organise a design sprint focused entirely on investigating the needs and current shortfalls in transporting patients and carers during Ebola outbreaks. Working with the support of the WHO and our colleagues from the field and MSF Switzerland, we were able to break down the problem and investigate two possible design solutions. 

Next steps: The aim now will be to see how these solutions can be taken forward to improve the safety and efficiency of our teams on the ground. A big thank you to everyone that participated!

Pictured below: Ebola Transportation Workshop: Joseph Nyanzi sketching (MSF - was on Ebola mission), and on the right side Emad Mruwat (MSF - Innovation Geneva) and Frederic Urlep (WHO).

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Case Three - Referral Systems 

Status: Referral systems in MSF are often subject to challenges along the entire continuum; from the arrival of the patient to our facility, to decision making to refer out of the facility and to follow up in an external medical structure. 

We launched the referral Systems Case to explore the core issues and opportunities in the referral pathway. It was clear from the analysis involved in this work that referrals are a complex process and without a robust and consistent system project teams really struggle to appropriately manage patient pathways and implement cost-effective practices. 

Having interviewed 56 people in Sudan and Ethiopia we identified omnipresent challenges flagged by MSF and non-MSF staff from pre-referral to follow up. 

Next Steps: We are now working with field teams across MSF to implement the findings of this innovation case analysis. If you are leading field efforts within the MSF movement are interested in exploring how the Referral Systems Case findings may elevate your efforts we would love to hear from you! Learn more by watching the video below:

Your Health Innovation Resource Insights

Lancet Countdown 2019 Report Webinar with MSF

What it is: The Lancet Countdown 2019 report on health and climate change presents the latest data on 41 indicators across five domains: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerabilities; adaptation planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement. This annual publication is produced through the collaboration of 120 leading academic institutions, UN agencies, public health professionals, doctors, and scientists. You can read the latest report HERE

Quick Insights: 

  • Climate Change threatens to undermine the last 50 years of gains in public health

  • In 2018, 220 million more heatwave exposures affecting older populations were observed – 11 million more than the previous record set in 2015, increasing the risk of heat stress, kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.

  • In 2018 global health adaptation spending increased by nearly 12%

Why it matters: The life of every child born today will be profoundly affected by climate change, with populations around the world increasingly facing extremes of weather, food and water insecurity, changing patterns of infectious disease, and a less certain future. While mitigating has been a core focus of many efforts at the intersection of climate and health, the SIU also recognises the need for a multi-sided approach where realistic adaptation efforts are put in place. 

We are delighted to be partnering with The Lancet Countdown, MSF Ireland, and Doctors for the Environment to discuss the key report fi

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What We're Listening to

  • Webinar featuring the MSF SIU Solar Air Conditioning Case - Energy Efficiency and Designing for Sustainability in Humanitarian Response. Recording of this webinar (6th) and others can be found HERE >

  • MSF Everyday Emergency - Environmental emergencies: Climate crises and humanitarian response HERE >

Until Next Time 👋

Thanks for reading! We'll loop back with the next newsletter in April 2020 - until then stay up to date via the social links below. 

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!

The SIU Team

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The SIU 2019 Wrap-Up - 5 Successes and Failures to Learn from in 2020