Accelerating Health Literacy in the Sinai Region, Egypt
Author: Nahla Swelam, UNLEASH Hack Sinai Organizing Team Lead
Sinai University in Egypt partnered with UNLEASH to host their inaugural hackathon at the university’s Qantara branch. The two-day program, themed “Towards a Better Health Culture,” marked a significant step in enhancing health literacy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Hack, hosted by the Faculty of Mass Communication, brought together 27 students from diverse academic backgrounds including media, pharmacy, physiotherapy, information technology, and dentistry. Competing for top honors, participants presented five innovative initiatives aimed at revolutionizing healthcare accessibility and education.
Teams created a range of solutions such as medical convoys, educational games, websites, and mobile applications. Some of the highlights include initiatives for special needs support, medical personnel training, interactive education for children, and early detection and treatment of chronic diseases. A proposal to deploy intern doctors to outlying Sinai sites for early disease prevention garnered attention.
“UNLEASH Sinai was a really amazing experience for only two days! I gained experience and great ability to focus and analyze to find solutions and we have great friends who participated with us in the Hack. The organization was great and preparation for the Hack and I am happy to participate! I can’t be more delighted that my team’s idea won first place for the best idea and we hope for many more participations with UNLEASH,” says Mohamed Fawzy about his experience as a Talent.
Talents pitched to a panel of five experts, who selected three solutions as having the most significant impact on healthcare inclusion and accessibility: a medical personnel support platform; a comprehensive chronic disease management website; and designated spaces for individuals with impairments. What’s more important is all the solutions presented offer optimism for a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system in the future.
“I’m incredibly proud of this groundbreaking experience. We deeply value the opportunity to organize such a program in a marginalized area that deserves greater attention. I eagerly anticipate numerous similar Hacks across Egypt, given the profound impact it had on participants’ lives in just two days,” says Tasneem Qurrah, a member of the Organizing Team.
The Hack’s success underscores how creativity and collaboration can drive positive change in healthcare. The partnership between UNLEASH and Sinai University in Egypt, showcases their dedication to advancing health literacy and leveraging creative solutions to uplift the Sinai region.