Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 553 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Citizen-Led Initiative Battles Dangerous ‘Infodemic'

Aline Suárez del Real

April 06, 2021 |

Global Press Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico

Verificovid was started by a group of friends to combat pandemic-related misinformation in Mexico. They work with a group of government doctors to identify, track, investigate, and disprove misinformation. The group posts infographics with updated COVID-19 statistics on social media – mainly Whatsapp and Telegram – and offers medical tips via short audio messages and texts. They prioritize fast-moving misinformation that could cause the most harm and, along with sharing the truth, they investigate the origin of the misinformation and teach the public how to identify and stop fake news.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How META is helping women deliver safely in rural Benue communities

Desmond Okon

March 31, 2021 |

Business Day |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Gboko

Maternal Expert Thinking Analyzer is a pilot project to prevent maternal mortality that uses a mobile diagnostic, training, and outreach application to help midwives assess the risk of their patients in rural areas. Midwives input data collected from pregnant mothers into the app and generate an automated risk-based assessment score. The pregnant mother then receives a text with advice based on her risk level. A total of 33 midwives across 14 regions are trained to use the app. Initial results indicate that the app has had positive results preventing maternal mortality and even increasing antenatal care.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How satellite images are helping one country hand out cash

Richard Kenny Hannah Gelbart

March 24, 2021 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Togo

"Poverty maps" that combine satellite imagery and survey data enabled the Togolese government to target emergency pandemic charitable aid to the people in greatest need. Togo officials relied on the expertise of University of California-Berkeley researchers whose system interprets aerial images showing such factors as the density and condition of housing. Initially, 35,000 people received $13-$15 per month for five months to make up for the loss of jobs and small-business income during pandemic shutdowns. Applications were sought from targeted areas through advertising, and money was sent via mobile phones.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Babyl Rwanda bridging healthcare gap through mobile technology

Daniel Nzohabonimana

March 23, 2021 |

Rwanda News Agency |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Rwanda

Babyl Health provides over 3,000 daily e-health consultations to bridge the gap between Rwandan providers and patients. The two million registered users can dial *811# to book an appointment and are triaged, with those needing more extensive care referred to one of the 483 partner clinics around the country. The country’s universal health coverage pays for 90% of the appointment and the patient pays 200 RWF. The platform works on an app available on most citizens’ phones and doesn’t require an internet connection. When needed, patients receive prescriptions via SMS that they can bring to a local pharmacy.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Real-time monitoring of 911 calls: A new tool for cops

Jim Dudley

March 19, 2021 |

Police1 |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chula Vista, California

The Chula Vista Police Department uses the Live911 system to live-stream 911 calls to police officers on patrol. The system enables quicker responses to emergencies and reduces the risk of unnecessary confrontations between people in crises and cops who lack critical information because it was filtered through a dispatcher. Despite fears that hearing panicked callers would increase police officers' agitation en route to a call, the system has had the opposite effect by communicating nuances and details that assure officers the emergency is less dangerous than originally assumed.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Using satellite photos to help distribute cash

Hannah Gelbart

March 16, 2021 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Togo

Togo distributed money to people in need, including informal sector workers, by identifying them using machine learning. Algorithms search satellite photos for clues of poverty, using measures like building density, and individuals within those areas are found using mobile phone data as a proxy of their wealth. Media campaigns also encourage people to apply for assistance. Once eligibility is confirmed, the first of five monthly payments is instantly sent to their phone and can be collected at local pick-up points. People without mobile phones can use an inexpensive SIM card in a borrowed phone.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Road Salt Is Imperiling Aquatic Ecosystems. It Doesn't Have To.

Anne N. Connor

March 11, 2021 |

Undark |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Lake George, New York

An experiment in upstate New York showed how town officials could maintain clean and safe roads during the winter season and protect the environment. By using a salt brine before winter storms, they were able to plow the roads more efficiently and, at the same time, reduce the amount of salt going into waterways that could impact freshwater ecosystems. The effort, launched by the nonprofit FUND for Lake George, required “a culture shift within the towns’ maintenance departments,” but the communities were able to cut their salt usage in half over two years.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Hunting for a Leftover Vaccine? This Site Will Match You With a Clinic.

Katie Thomas

March 09, 2021 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

To help with the coronavirus vaccine distribution, a New York-based start-up has introduced a service that connects "vaccine providers who find themselves with extra vaccines to people who are willing to get one at a moment’s notice." Although the project is still being piloted, more than 500,000 vaccination-seekers and 200 vaccine providers have signed up for the initiative, and some health officials believe it could become a model for a more equitable distribution strategy.

Read More
Go to Original Story
OMOMi is leveraging digital technology to provide women with easy access to quality maternal health care

Paul Adepoju

March 08, 2021 |

Nigeria Health Watch |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

An app is offering reproductive healthcare help to women in Nigeria who don't always have access to reliable maternal and prenatal health information. While it does require the user to have access to technology, it has attracted 40,000 users so far, providing "pregnant women and mothers with access to life-saving maternal and child health information, as well as access to doctors with the touch of a button."

Read More
Go to Original Story
To Tackle Homelessness, Santa Fe Found a Better Plan

Kriston Capps

March 04, 2021 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sante Fe, New Mexico

The adoption of the “Built for Zero” campaign in Sante Fe, New Mexico, allowed the city to effectively respond to the housing crisis that unfolded as a result of the pandemic. The data-driven approach gives cities a better snapshot of how many people are homeless at any given time and also encourages agencies to work together, which creates a network that can adequately address chronic homelessness.

Read More
Go to Original Story