‘Pregnancy Monitoring Innovation Challenge 2022’ opened
The competition titled 'Pregnancy Monitoring Innovation Challenge 2022' has started to seek innovative ideas for improving pregnancy monitoring services for expectant mothers and providing information in the field of child health and ensuring emergency healthcare. The competition was launched on Thursday to procure from indigenous innovators an innovative solution combining technical know-how and practice. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department Senior Secretary NM Zeaul Alam PAA was present as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.
The innovation competition titled 'Pregnancy Monitoring Innovation Challenge 2022' is being organized by a2i, Directorate of Health, Directorate of Family Planning, International Fertility Research Center, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB). The 'Pregnancy Monitoring Innovation Challenge 2022' will award an innovative proposal that will ensure that every woman is provided with all information related to emergency services and daily healthcare needs during her pregnancy. Which will work to increase awareness about pregnant mother and newborn care and behavioral change of common people by establishing a two-way communication and ecosystem. Also important physiological information of pregnant mother like temperature, sleep, movement, pulse rate etc. will store. Domestic innovators are invited to submit proposals by October 8, 2022 to participate in this competition. For details visit: challenge.gov.bd
It may be noted that, after the initial screening, a bootcamp will be conducted with the inventors who provide the 10 best ideas from the innovative proposals received from the inventors. Future innovators will have the opportunity to elaborate on their innovative ideas with distinguished judges at the bootcamp. Out of these, the best two ideas will move on to the next stage of the competition. Out of this, Tk. 1 crore will be provided as seed money for research and development of the proposed idea along with constant mentoring to the winning idea provider/institution.
In the speech of the chief guest, Senior Secretary of ICT Department NM Zeaul Alam said that the more investment in maternal, newborn and child health services, the more it will contribute to the development of the country. Several works have already been done in technical and traditional ways to develop the maternal health care sector of the country. I hope that through the Challenge Fund launched today, it will be possible to create a system where pregnant women in need can get all the necessary counseling and related services at their doorsteps.
While speaking as the president of the program, The project director (Joint Secretary) of a2i Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir highlighted the steps taken by a2i for the development of health care and said that a2i is regularly organizing various challenge competitions to solve the existing civic problems. The use of technology to tackle the big problems of society, especially electromechanical devices, internet of things, exploration of various innovations in the use of renewable energy, Care and Acceleration are the main goals of iLab at a2i. Today's challenge fund competition is organized to build and implement a suitable innovative digital tracking platform for accurate collection and storage of important pregnancy physical data of expectant mothers. If the system is built and implemented in order to solve the maternal health problems of those who live at the marginal level of the society in a sustainable way, it will be possible to reduce the maternal mortality rate of the country much more.
While discussing how Bangladesh will be in 2041 in health care, a2i's policy advisor Anir Chowdhury said that various departments and organizations of the government have a lot of data related to maternal, newborn and child health. If they can be brought together and work together, the maternal and child health sector can be greatly improved. This competition will help us find a solution where it will be possible to bring the data stored by different organizations in the health sector on one platform. In addition, a reliable, marketable and cost-effective system can be developed with self-invented technologies and devices to communicate and raise awareness among prospective mothers.
Health Education and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary (Medical Education Division) Nitish Chandra Sarkar, Health Services Department Additional Secretary (Administration Division) Md. Saidur Rahman, Family Planning Director General Sahan Ara Banu, and Nursing and Midwifery Director General Siddiqa Akhter were present as special guests on the occasion.
a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury and a2i Innovation Lab Head of Technology Farooq Ahmed Jewel were also present as panelists while the project director (Joint Secretary) of a2i Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir presided over the session.
The online event was moderated by a2i's National Consultant Dr. Shabnam Mostari while Naeem Ashrafi, Head of a2i Innovation Fund, a2i, Directorate of Health, Directorate of Family Planning, ICDDR, B, OGSB, representatives of various domestic and international organizations involved in the health sector and senior officials of various government departments and agencies also were connected online.
In the speech of the chief guest, Senior Secretary of ICT Department NM Zeaul Alam said that the more investment in maternal, newborn and child health services, the more it will contribute to the development of the country. Several works have already been done in technical and traditional ways to develop the maternal health care sector of the country. I hope that through the Challenge Fund launched today, it will be possible to create a system where pregnant women in need can get all the necessary counseling and related services at their doorsteps.
While speaking as the president of the program, The project director (Joint Secretary) of a2i Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir highlighted the steps taken by a2i for the development of health care and said that a2i is regularly organizing various challenge competitions to solve the existing civic problems. The use of technology to tackle the big problems of society, especially electromechanical devices, internet of things, exploration of various innovations in the use of renewable energy, Care and Acceleration are the main goals of iLab at a2i. Today's challenge fund competition is organized to build and implement a suitable innovative digital tracking platform for accurate collection and storage of important pregnancy physical data of expectant mothers. If the system is built and implemented in order to solve the maternal health problems of those who live at the marginal level of the society in a sustainable way, it will be possible to reduce the maternal mortality rate of the country much more.
While discussing how Bangladesh will be in 2041 in health care, a2i's policy advisor Anir Chowdhury said that various departments and organizations of the government have a lot of data related to maternal, newborn and child health. If they can be brought together and work together, the maternal and child health sector can be greatly improved. This competition will help us find a solution where it will be possible to bring the data stored by different organizations in the health sector on one platform. In addition, a reliable, marketable and cost-effective system can be developed with self-invented technologies and devices to communicate and raise awareness among prospective mothers.
Health Education and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary (Medical Education Division) Nitish Chandra Sarkar, Health Services Department Additional Secretary (Administration Division) Md. Saidur Rahman, Family Planning Director General Sahan Ara Banu, and Nursing and Midwifery Director General Siddiqa Akhter were present as special guests on the occasion.
a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury and a2i Innovation Lab Head of Technology Farooq Ahmed Jewel were also present as panelists while the project director (Joint Secretary) of a2i Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir presided over the session.
The online event was moderated by a2i's National Consultant Dr. Shabnam Mostari while Naeem Ashrafi, Head of a2i Innovation Fund, a2i, Directorate of Health, Directorate of Family Planning, ICDDR, B, OGSB, representatives of various domestic and international organizations involved in the health sector and senior officials of various government departments and agencies also were connected online. 
