The Records for Life contest will run
through October 31, 2013 for hard copy submissions and electronic
proposals can now be submitted through November 15th at 10:00AM PT. Winners will be announced in early 2014.
The contest is open to all individuals
from all sectors (for-profits, Non-Governmental Organizations,
governments, universities, etc.) and all levels of expertise (students,
professors, frontline workers, CEOs, etc.). Submissions can come from
individuals or teams of individuals.
Submissions must include a cover letter, a
prototype of the redesigned child health record and an accompanying
narrative that articulates how the prototype design would help ensure
that the child health record fulfills the five functions as described
above.
The submissions will be evaluated by a
judging panel of design and immunization experts, as well as parents and
health workers in a series of focus groups. The evaluation will be
based on the following characteristics:
- Clarity of the design
- Adaptability of the card
- Perceived value to caregivers
- Perceived value to health workers
- Durability of the card
There will also be recognition in three
additional categories that seek to address some specific design
challenges with current child health records:
- Ease of adding new information to the card
- Digital transition: Visualizing data
- Digital transition: Retroactive data entry
Child health records serve at least five functions in a health system:
- A unique identifier that is intimately connected to the child
- A source of critical information for health workers about the child’s health and vaccination status, and what the child needs at each point of contact with the health system
- A source of critical information for families, such as date of next visit for vaccination
- A source of critical information for household surveys, which many countries and policymakers rely on to validate coverage levels obtained from administrative data systems
- An educational tool for families to learn more about health interventions
However, child health records may fail to
serve these functions for a variety of reasons. Many families never
receive health records for their children, or, if they do receive them,
they can be easily lost. In many cases, records are not accurately
filled out because they are designed in a confusing way.
Accurate and accessible records are needed
to maintain accurate health histories for children, identify those who
need to be immunized, and those who have missed immunizations or are off
schedule. When the record is unclear, inaccessible or unused, it’s
harder to reach children with life-saving vaccines.
The foundation will recognize the top entries - selected by a panel including Melinda Gates (co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Robert Fabricant (Vice President, Frog Design), Dr. Margaret Chan (Director General, World Health Organization), Tony Lake (Executive Director, UNICEF), and Dr. Walt Orenstein (Professor of Medicine, Emory University) — with awards of up to $50,000. Top designs may be piloted in as many as ten countries by 2018. We are looking for innovative ideas that will:
- improve the child health record;
- strengthen information systems; and
- empower health workers and families to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and ultimately save lives.
Read the detailed contest rules and guidelines here .
Submit your idea here.
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