SIU Newsletter August 2020 - Energy Behaviour Change & Open Source Epidemiology
Systems Thinking.
For many the word 'innovation' strikes a chord with the natural human desire of a quick fix solution. At this stage, we should have all come to terms with the fact that this aspiration is at odds with the complexity of healthcare. Smart tools are only truly smart if they are embedded in smart systems, or at least contribute to making the system that bit better.
Ultimately this is why it is necessary to start with a problem when considering the introduction of any new innovation. To understand a problem, understanding the system is a prerequisite. At present COVID-19 is amplifying the cracks in systems - from racial injustices and public health oversights, to environmental failures.
As we step forward to remedy these challenges we must remember that innovation is not about creating new silos of 'solutions' but rather breaking down the walls between ineffective old silos and building bridges with new processes, tools and awareness. At the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit, that is what we are here to do.
Keep scrolling for the most recent MSF innovation updates including a new way of thinking about motivating environmentally friendly behaviours, contributing to open source innovations for optimised epidemiology, building an inclusive mindset in humanitarian intervention design, and more.
Innovation Highlights from the MSF Movement
MSF Innovation Highlight 1 - Energy Behaviour Change
It may come as no surprise that two mission-driven humanitarian organisations (ICRC and MSF) have recognised their environmental responsibility and taken action to improve our footprint and reduce the financial burden due to the waste of energy in MSF and ICRC premises. This recognition resulted in the formation of the ENERGY BEHAVIOUR CHANGE CASE which more specifically aims to:
Identify appropriate solutions to monitor energy consumption to obtain a better understanding on how energy is used by staff in organisations’ premises.
Design approaches that take into account high turn-over of staff, that can trigger real and persistent changes in staff behaviours in ICRC and MSF premises.
Status: Phase One of this project has now been completed. You can read the full report from this phase on the SIU case page HERE. This report presents a roadmap and framework for performing energy audits alongside other critical baseline insights including how to leverage nudge in your own work.
Next steps: Up next, the MSF and ICRC teams will disseminate these initial findings and move towards broader implementation of positive energy behaviour change practices. Additionally, the SIU has started conducting a small mapping of beneficiary access to sustainable energy sources in the field, external to MSF. To join the discussion just get in touch by replying to this email!
MSF Innovation Highlight 2 - Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at MSF
While we would hope that in 2020 all services would be designed within an inclusive lens, unfortunately that is not the reality. MSF has gathered data on the perceived inclusion and there is clear room for improvement. As a part of this cross-organisational effort, an inclusion team in MSF Oslo has developed an ONLINE COURSE AND RESOURCE DEPOSITORY to help individuals and teams reinforce more inclusive practices.
Status: The online course developed by the MSF inclusion team is now openly available HERE for those of you who feel your team or organisation might need a refresher on the way you think about disability and impairment when developing interventions.
Next steps: Take the short online course! Explore health and inclusion resources. Talk to your colleagues about their experience of inclusion in your work - from both a beneficiary and workforce point of view. Contact details available HERE for those in MSF who would like to engage with the team behind these efforts.
Click image to access the online short course
MSF Innovation Highlight 3 - Open Source Epidemiology R4EPIS
R4EPIS is a project to develop standardised data cleaning, analysis and reporting tools to cover common types of outbreaks and population-based surveys that would be conducted in an MSF emergency response setting.
Status: With the development of the R software, MSF has now provided field epidemiologists with novel data management tools as well as templates of automated “situation reports” that cover outbreak investigations (acute jaundice syndrome, cholera, measles, meningitis) and three of the MSF ERB pre-approved surveys (mortality, nutrition and vaccination).
Next Steps: If you are familiar with this program and its use cases you can use and contribute to the R4EPIS open resource HERE. To learn more about how this is being developed and implemented for field use read THIS BLOG from MSF Epidemiologist Julia during her time tracking a measles outbreak in Chad.
Is it a few isolated cases? Or the beginning of a mass outbreak? Click the image above to read about MSF Epidemiologist Julia and her time spent in Chad investigating a measles outbreak.
Is it a few isolated cases? Or the beginning of a mass outbreak? Click the image above to read about MSF Epidemiologist Julia and her time spent in Chad investigating a measles outbreak.
External Resource Highlight
Exemplars in Global Health was launched a few weeks ago to provide 'global health decision-makers with an accessible, useful tool with contextualised analysis to ultimately drive better informed health decisions for funding efforts and implementation.'
Developed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others including Last Mile Health, the online resource has launched with insights into a select number of success stories related to Community Healthcare Workers, Stunting and Under Five Mortality (more in progress on vaccines and COVID-19). Within each of these thematic areas the creators have highlighted key insights from contexts that have overcome significant challenges and resource limitations to improve health outcomes.
In addition to providing these examples of success, the site allows users to submit burning global health questions for experts in the space. EXPLORE THE EXEMPLARS IN GLOBAL HEALTH SITE HERE >
What We're Listening to
LSHTM Viral: Podcast from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine focused on the science behind the COVID-19 outbreak and the global response. THIS EPISODE EXPLORES THE HIGH STAKES OF THE PANDEMIC IN LOW RESOURCE SETTINGS.
Tech Tonics: A podcast by a US-based MD and an investor interviewing experts working at the intersection of healthcare and Technology. THIS FEATURED EPISODE DIVES INTO DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TELE-BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH.
Until Next Time 👋
We love hearing from subscribers on their thoughts on health innovation efforts. Reach out with any questions or comments on siu@stockholm.msf.org - we'd be delighted to continue the conversation.
Thanks for reading!