African Health Care Initiative: Projects

Topics: Methodology Development, Touch Surface Research, Off-Grid Electrical Power Research,
 Malaria Research, Site Selection in Limpopo

Methodology Development

The everyday approach of the AHCI team is being constantly adapted and improved by developing new and better ways to plan, manage and assess projects. Project management techniques help project coordinators to estimate project strengths and risk areas effectively. At the same time visual outputs from the tools can make easier to understand the key aspects that lead to a successful completion of a project and enable better communication between all the different groups (researchers, local community AHCI staff, fieldworkers, etc.) involved. The level of detail and extend of these methods is increasing as the different phases progress. The main parties working on the approach are the CDA Africa and the EMANTI team. Many other AHCI partners also regularly provide relevant input. The 'Spider Diagram' is one way in which a projects feasibility or 'health' status can be represented:

Touch Surface Research

The anti microbial initiative in clinical environments is an ideal fit for the very important work being undertaken by many governments, non-governmental organizations, and foundations, which is the upgrading of rural health care clinics across the African Continent – directed towards primary and HIV/AIDS care. The ability of certain metals (specifically copper) to significantly reduce and even eliminate pathogens from solid surfaces and within liquids was known to ancient civilisations like the Egyptians. Today anti microbial touch surfaces also find application in hospitals across the UK, US and Japan, but specifically in the rural environment they pose an easy, cheap, environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical detergents. Tygerberg Academic Hospital and the University of Stellenbosch work in collaboration under the medical supervision of Prof Shaheen Mehtar on the successful implementation of this new 'old' technology. After laboratory testing clinical trials are being carried out at the health clinic of Grabouw in preparation for a national and African wide rollout. The images below show the number of colony forming units of E. coli on a stainless steel and copper surface over a 90 minute period.

Off-Grid Electrical Power Research

A desktop study investigates the pros and cons of the various options available for the  provision of rural clinics and communities with a grid independent electricity source. The investigated technologies range from photovoltaic, wind and small scale hydro- power to bio fuel generators and anaerobic digestion. A key aspect of the case studies and proposals resulting from this research is the aim to stimulate sustainable local economic development (LED). The results of this study are intended to provide a comprehensive guide on what technology is most appropriate for a given situation and also to give an indication of the life cycle cost of the different options. Ultimately within Phase III these technologies will find application alongside anti-microbial touch surfaces and community empowerment programmes in and around rural health clinics in South Africa and beyond.

Malaria Research

This project is still in the initial planning stage. It is inspired by various international research reports which suggest that copper can play its part in interrupting the reproductive cycle of potentially Malaria transmitting mosquitoes. This is due to copper ions in solution preventing the eclosion of the mosquito larvae. The AHCI has started a discussion with the South African Malaria Institute in Tzaneen and is investigating the possibilities for further research and practical field trials.

Site Selection in Limpopo

As part of Phase III of the ACHI extensive site visits are being conducted across Limpopo and wider South and Southern Africa. Clinics, communities, water treatment facilities and education and skill training centres are being visited and new contacts and partners are made along the way. The difficult task is to select those few locations where the AHCI is likely to make the greatest positive contribution towards the wellbeing of the local communities, both in body and in mind. At this point all the different aspects of the AHCI's work come together to find the suitable place, to implement appropriate solutions, with and through those who will directly benefit from them. The aim is always  to ideally reach every level of a community while sharing responsibility for the success of the project with that community, but remaining accountable for the AHCI's actions at the same time.