UNFPA, Microsoft, Partner FG for Family Planning Hackathon
The United Nations Family Planning Agency (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Microsoft Engineering team and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has organised hackathon to raise innovative ideas on family planning issues in Nigeria.
The event which took place recently in Lagos, saw the likes of 17 creative minds pitch ideas for improving the family planning progromme in the country.
Speaking at the summit, Esther Somefun, Gender, and Reproductive Health Analyst and the Officer in Charge (OIC) UNFPA Lagos disclosed that the hackathon is focused on generating innovative solutions that promote family planning services for women and young people.
Somefun further explained that access to family planning information and services is critical and vital, as case studies have shown that 3.5 million pregnancies could be avoided, and more than 31,000 women save time if all women were able to plan their families and have access to the family.
UNFPA, Federal Ministry of health, Microsoft partners to explore technological innovations to access family planning in Nigeria
” Hackanthon is one of the means which we are contributing as our series of pre-submit and pre- engagement activities hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and United Nations Population Fund to ensuring Nigeria is able to reach our family planning target as a nation and apart from this Hackathon we have a renovation spot light which is also contributing to pulling up ideas and showcasing what works in addressing family planning challenges within the country.”
“Access to family planning, information and services is critical and vital as case studies have shown that 3.5m pregnancies could be avoided and more than 31.000 women saved from dying, if all women were able to plan their pregnancies and birth through modern family planning,” she said.
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“To reach our target, even when we have funding, UNFPA has identified a 6 by 6 framework which identifies technology and innovation as a catalyst and as accelerator to reducing maternal mortality and also within our means of family planning,” she said.
Innovation Team Lead, African Development Center (ADC), Microsoft Engineering Team, Nkem Nweke, noted that invested 10b dollars in Open AI and they look for local ideas that will have global impact, adding that Microsoft wants to build something bold regardless of size, something inclusive, grounded in trust.
“We want to build an AI solutions that provides, helps or solve most problems in the world such as access to modern family planning and a product that is excuted at skill like Open AI which is changing the world with 2.5 ushers today,”
