Solve a problem with tech
Sohel Parvez
Tending to an expectant mother, a health worker keys answers to a set of questions into her smartphone. The information is then sent to a local clinic by the internet-enabled phone for a follow-up.
If the situation is deemed risky, doctors respond by sending an SMS alert back to the health worker to bring the patient to hospital for further attention.
This is how Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd helps reduce maternal mortality through the use of software applications on modern devices, such as laptops, netbooks or smartphones.
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"We are implementing the 'proof-of-concept' at selective trial locations in Bangladesh. We want to replicate the tech-based solution in other areas with a social objective of reducing maternal mortality," says Kazi I Huque, chief executive of Grameen Intel, a joint venture between Intel Corp and Grameen Trust.
Incorporated in 2009, the social business was formed to address the unmet needs in developing countries, while focusing on the lasting impacts and financial sustainability by combining Intel's know-how in technology innovation and Grameen's experience in serving the disadvantaged segment of society.
"Our goal is to create digital solutions that address specific social problems. Our main objective is to serve the needs of the impoverished segment of the population who could potentially benefit from technology."
He said the solutions that Grameen Intel intends to provide consist of small software applications that are developed within the company, tailored to meet local needs, and coupled with a mobile computing device to constitute a complete solution package.
The idea of providing IT-based solutions to social problems came about, as nearly 70 percent of more than 650 crore of the world's population is yet to benefit from IT.
"When we look at statistics, we can see that it's the individuals, companies and large corporations that have primarily benefited from IT," he says. Intel is interested in looking at ways to bring technology to the majority of the people who are yet to benefit from it, he adds.
He said Grameen Intel wants to provide low-cost solutions to address specific problems of society, like reduction of maternal mortality, vaccination for infants and soil-testing services for farmers.
The social business venture has already developed software to help assess high-risk pregnancies. "We provided the solutions to two of the Grameen clinics as part of the pilot project," he says, adding that about 60 pregnancies were diagnosed as high-risky by using the IT solution.
The company is also working on developing another software -- Vaccine Tracker -- to give alerts on pending vaccinations. For example, in many developing countries, nine different vaccinations are recommended for the first 18-24 months of an infant's life. The Vaccine Tracker generates automatic notifications based on the date of birth of the child.
The company estimates that the solutions will require a $300-500 upfront investment for entities or entrepreneurs who want to use those to address social problems.
"But at the end of the day, technology cannot solve these problems in its entirety. It can enable solutions by gathering and analysing the necessary information," he says. "You have to have a coordination among all stakeholders to benefit from technology to address the specific social problems."
He said the company would work on recruiting entrepreneurs or local entities to provide these services.
Huque expects Grameen Intel to grow and expand within the constructs of a social business from a business model standpoint, and attract more companies if the business model proves sustainable.
"The sustainability angle for the Grameen Intel business is yet to be proven, given our formative stage. If we can prove that, more companies will likely be interested in the social business model."
sohel@thedailystar.net
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=144680
