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Innovators Mobilize to Help Developing Countries Combat COVID-19 Grand Challenges Canada innovators offer resources, ideas, affordable solutions for low-resource countries in need of pandemic essentials: medical oxygen, ventilators, masks, more Novel, affordable ways to acquire medical oxygen, ventilators, masks and other critically-needed COVID-19 supplies and services are among 20 Grand Challenges Canada innovations mobilizing to …and other illnesses.  Scheduled to debut commercially this fall, prioritizing low- and middle-income countries, FREO2 is working through complications to international roll-outs caused by travel restrictions. Video: https://youtu.be/Dy8j9xWrVlU   Ventilators 1) Gradian Health Systems Inc. (USA) This non-profit has established distribution and service networks providing and sustaining world-class medical equipment in facilities across more than…Max Foundation trains local NGOs to promote improved water, sanitation, nutrition and safe motherhood in rural communities in Bangladesh. Initial payments let NGOs adapt and implement interventions, incentivized by follow-on payments when results targets are met. The Max Healthy Village program emphasizes accelerated water, sanitation and hand-washing efforts critical to a COVID-19 response, and, with its database of 400,000 mobile numbers for beneficiary households and community leaders, can facilitate quick dissemination of relevant, accurate health information to support behaviour change and decision-making in designated villages.   2) Water Sanitation Hygiene Enterprise Development Cambodia (Cambodia) WaterSHED Cambodia’s “HappyTap Labobo" is the only commercial indoor / outdoor portable sink…a pipeline of over 1,250 innovations in 105 countries. Grand Challenges Canada estimates that these innovations have the potential to save up to 1.6 million lives and improve up to 51 million lives by 2030. Grand Challenges Canada is hosted in Toronto at the Sandra Rotman Centre at the MaRS Discovery District, and in partnership…

…Canada has awarded $250K CAD in seed funding for 20 mental health innovations in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the 20 selected innovations are youth-led and aim to tackle mental health challenges using digital technology, storytelling, and community-based care. Many of the innovations are female-led, and several focus on addressing the needs…children’s homes in Nakuru, Kenya. The innovation uses a stepped-care approach, adapting the evidence-based Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) framework, which emphasizes positive childhood experiences that help children grow into healthy, resilient adults. The innovation will have peer support, with 35 young people trained to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA); institution-based psychosocial support, with…providers, and guidance and counseling teachers in the arts-based psychoeducation and the use of therapeutic art through the Zambia Therapeutic Art course. Dream Sports Africa, MY (Mind Yourself) Mental Health Project, Nigeria [caption id="attachment_51233" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Photo credit: Dream Sports Africa[/caption] The MY (Mind Yourself) program is a student-led volunteer network aimed at reducing stigma…Lagos in planning and implementing culturally relevant mindful movement-based sessions both in-person and online. The program is based on research that suggests a reciprocal relationship between physical activity and social and emotional development, where physical activity provides opportunities for participants to learn and use social, emotional, and cognitive skills that ultimately improve well-being in sports, school, and life. Foundation for Professional Development, StepWell: An evidence-based mental health promotion and prevention digital game, South Africa Digital gaming offers an opportunity…shops. Young barbers will be trained as peer mentors to connect with their youth clients on mental health issues and link them to appropriate care. SiyaFanaFana, FanaFana - Chat for Change - Improved well-being of Zimbabwean LGBTQIA+ youth using a scaled digital chatbot service, Zimbabwe [caption id="attachment_51255" align="alignnone" width="2042"] Photo credit: SiyaFanaFana[/caption] In Zimbabwe, levels of depression, anxiety,…preventative well-being course, journaling, problem solving, audio meditations, and reminders to boost adherence to anti-retroviral medication. The app will be low-data with offline capabilities and offered in English and Zulu. Women Friendly Initiative, Collaborative Action for Mental Health Promotion Utilizing Students (CAMPUS), Nigeria The CAMPUS project aims to address the social, economic, and academic stressors…

…a single infectious agent. TB is a leading killer of people living with HIV, causing one fifth of all deaths. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and it is among the top three causes of death for women aged 15 to 44. More than half a million children became ill…own borders, but well beyond that. Through Grand Challenges Canada, our Government is taking the five WHO priorities to heart, by stimulating innovative solutions and interventions that improve the detection and treatment of tuberculosis. To date, Grand Challenges Canada, which is funded by the Canadian Government, has committed almost $5 million to fight tuberculosis, representing…assay for diagnosing multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (Thailand) This project aims to develop a new and simple microfluidics-enabled method for testing effectiveness of many drug combinations at once, to help optimize treatment of resistant strains of tuberculosis (University of Toronto). Novel single diagnostic assay for active, latent and drug-resistant tuberculosis (India) A quick and accurate diagnostic tool…a hand-held microcytometer for Point-of-Care CD4 enumeration (South Africa) Using tuberculosis as a model disease, the team aims to develop a low-cost, hand-held biosensor that combines the selectivity of antigen-specific DNA aptamers with the exceptional specificity of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, in order to reliably quantify pathogen biomarkers present in patient specimens at the point…contribution to the Global Fund. This commitment builds on the Muskoka Initiative as well, saving lives of women, children and newborns in developing nations. Join the conversation on Twitter by using hashtag #WorldTBday. We encourage you to post your questions and comments about this blog on our Facebook page Grand Challenges Canada and on Twitter @gchallenges and @Kenssimiyu.

…the new work-from-home reality but fearlessly went above and beyond their responsibilities. They developed gender equality case studies, organized an international 'new methods for safe abortions' hackathon, helped to screen the newly relaunched Global Mental Health program applications, and much more. The Summer Students brought fresh energy to Grand Challenges Canada. They continued to amaze our team with their new insights, their thought-provoking questions and how deeply they delved into their work. Thank you for your passion, dedication, and efforts this summer! Read below to learn more about their experiences, key takeaways, and tips! Anisah Hooda Team: Development Innovation, Targeted Innovations Education: Bachelor…to continue to grow and develop your skillset. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself; you never know what may follow! What is your favourite physical distancing COVID activity? I absolutely love spending my evenings going for walks/bike rides to enjoy the fresh air and greenery around me. I find that it’s a great way for me to have a change of scenery from the walls of my home office, get some exercise, and also provide me with the opportunity to reflect. Dhurshini Appaya Team: Finance Education: Bachelor…of a new accounting system. System migration is a very tedious task that required intense concentration and attention to detail. This project allowed me to apply and improve my coding skills and learned what goes on behind the scene of such complex software. What is a key take away from your experience at Grand Challenges…get out of this experience. Acknowledge your gaps but reframe them as growth opportunities. What is your favourite physical distancing COVID activity? Using Duolingo to learn French - I am not fluent yet, but working on it! Nabeela Jivraj Team: Knowledge Management and Translation Education: Master of Science in Public Health, McGill University, 2020 What…

…and international development projects. Our support allows innovators to adapt their product to also provide novel, affordable and locally sourced resources, ideas and solutions to acquire critical COVID-19 supplies and services for low-resource countries during the global pandemic. Together with this supplementary funding, the 14 innovations will have received total Grand Challenges Canada support of…workflows that is influencing how the Malian government approaches primary care. To date, more than 35,000 lives have been improved using the ProCCM model. COVID-19 supplemental funding: Activities will include training frontline health workers in COVID-19 curricula and protocols and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect community health workers and primary care providers at…distribution of RAS via public- and private-sector partnerships, with training for community health volunteers on identification of suspected severe malaria. As well, a system of bicycle ambulances helps transport emergency patients to the local health centre. By the end of 2019, 1,800 children had received RAS as a result of the MAMaZ against Malaria At…quality access to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health care and non-communicable disease services. With project funding from Grand Challenges Canada, the kiosk model is projected to improve the lives of more than 175,000 women and children under the age of 5 by 2030. COVID-19 supplemental funding: In addition to continuing to provide reproductive, maternal,…Location: India Real-time monitoring and contact tracing Triggerise is a digital platform that facilitates access to sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services by linking adolescent girls and young women with local service providers and health products. The platform connects users of its Tiko Explore membership program to providers, and generates demand for their primary-level care…