Faculty Mentor/s:
Khanjan Mehta, Creative Inquiry
Students on the team:
Brooke Lee ‘25
Cindy Tran ‘24
Lorraine Rwasoka ‘26
Noah Weaver ‘23
Samara Everman ‘23
Sterling Salmini ‘24
Project Description:
Sierra Leone has the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the world. This team is working on inexpensive (2-cent) test strips to screen women for Urinary Tract Infections and Preeclampsia in Sierra Leone. After receiving regulatory approval for the device from the Pharmacy Control Board in 2020, this team mobilized communities, trained health workers, and distributed test strips to reach a population of ~500,000 people. Over the next year, the goal is to strengthen and expand field operations in the capital city of Freetown. Alongside writing grant proposals and building new partnerships, this team is assisting World Hope International and the Sierra Leonean Health Ministry on a new initiative to vaccinate adolescent girls against cervical cancer. The team will build on prior qualitative research in understanding women’s perceptions of cervical cancer screening, treatment, and vaccination to develop effective messaging and mobilization strategies. All majors are welcome. We specifically need students with 1) marketing / graphic design skills, 2) journalism / theatre / public speaking skills, 3) data management and analysis skills, and 4) qualitative research and data analysis skills.
Month/Year Project Began:
The project began as “Ukweli Test Strips” in January 2017 and is refocusing beginning January 2023.