Page 29 - Woman to Woman Magazine: Special Edition 2020

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INNOVATION

overemphasized particularly in our COVID- 19 Innovative
“The importance of research cannot be
mission to transform our economy
from resource based to a knowledge- Projects Making Significant
based economy. We are delighted to
other young researchers to pursue Milestone Achievements
have women take the stage and inspire
research projects that can help us solve
some of the challenges we face today”.
he Botswana Innovation Fund validation as a unified social protection
Alan Boshwaen, CEO of Botswana (BIF) is supporting five projects registry platform for all existing public
Innovation Hub said; “The BIH that were awarded funding in social programmes. The project also
embraced the L’OREAL-UNESCO Tthe BIF Third Call for Proposals seeks additional funding to augment
for women in science awards and during the initial stages of the COVID-19 the BIF seed funding in order to achieve
promoted the call for applications from pandemic. The projects have since made desired impact in transforming Social
Batswana scientists. Early this year, significant progress despite the many Protection Services in Botswana.
BIH collaborated with the L’Oréal business challenges amid COVID 19 era.
Fondation and worked on a campaingn The solutions are being advanced for Online doctor consultation
to promote the call for applications as registration of copyrights and trademarks application; a doctor- patient
part of the Hub’s mandate to faciliatte with Companies and Intellectual Property consulting room on a phone/device or
Research and Innovation. Working Authority (CIPA) while they go through online through a developed application
with academic institutions and special products testing and quality assurance. platform. In consideration of the data
focus groups of women scientist and A critical step is in ensuring that they sensitivity measures and information
past winners we are pleased to have meet all regulatory requirements and confidentiality, implementation of
been able to mobilise a significant they are being urged to pass these stages. this project requires comprehensive
number of participants to enter the Following these, targeted off-takers will consultation with the Ministry of Health &
competition through submission of be engaged for products testing in an Wellness as well as the Botswana Health
their work demonstrating the impact iterative process. BIH is urging all the Professions Council (BHPC) which is
that their research will have in society relevant stakeholders to support these currently being pursued. Additionally,
at large”. Covid-19 pandemic solutions to gain the app requires IP protection which will
commercial traction when consulted be done once the app is fully functional. In
The L’Oréal Fondation works for for input or when they are availed for terms of system building, the platform has
the benefit of women around the general consumption. The solutions will achieved significant milestones including
world, supporting them and enabling be availed on some of the online stores a live message & video chat module,
them to achieve their goals in two for downloading. They are anticipated push notification module, appointment
major areas that sit at the heart to start being rolled out in stages starting module, health-tips function and
of the Group’s culture: scientific December 2020. e-prescription function. The app will also
research and inclusive beauty. The include a payment gateway system to
L’Oréal Fondation together with A Digital Social Protection System; enable safe and secure transactions on the
UNESCO promotes women in a mobile and online based application mobile app. Private doctors have shown
Science through among other things that provides positive experiences enthusiasm to be registered. However, as
an annual competition for aspiring for everyone involved in the social most of their customers use medical aids
women researchers at doctoral and protection field; social services, policy schemes for consultations, they therefore
post doctoral levels awarding cash makers, social services beneficiaries’ require medical aid schemes to cover
grants to 20 most deserving women applicants. The system currently online consultations. The project is being
young talents in Sub Saharan Africa. allows applicants to register their facilitated in getting medical aid schemes
Through the research areas of the vulnerability through USSD, WhatsApp, to approve the use of the solution and to
Young Talents, the 2020 Sub-Saharan Facebook Messenger, Mobile and allow doctors to bill accordingly using the
Awards reveal several fundamental Web platforms. A Web application for technology. Since this is a new technology
trends in the continent’s science, all assessment, approval and enrolment the current regulatory framework may
closely linked to the challenges it is of applicants by social workers has also not be provisioned. The Ministry of
facing. From medicine to biology and been completed. Analytics dashboards Health and Wellness as well as the
computer science, the themes of their for providing decision makers with Botswana Health Professions Council are
research work are highly topical: programme visibility and actionable both being consulted for guidance.
infectious diseases, combating climate insight for evidence-based programme
change or enhancing food security. interventions have also been completed.
The solution is ready for market Continues in Page 31

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Noble Magazine // 2020 Special Edition