We have successfully completed our first Open Source for Equality Challenge! The results are impressive: five web apps by five female developers in four local languages, covering a range of topics that will help empower rural women in Uganda.

While broadcasting is the transmission of information to a large group of people and geographic area for instance through radio or television, narrow-casting targets a much more select, defined group and can be done fully offline through devices such as solar audio players or loudspeakers. 

To increase awareness on COVID-19, substance abuse and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) amongst refugees and those in the host communities TPO Uganda adopted the use of the solar-powered MP3 Audiopedia devices as part of the innovations to ensure continuity.

This cheat sheet aims to define key phrases and concepts used to describe open source. It further provides a brief explanation of the words' meanings along with a link to a website where you may get further details.

Trachoma is an infectious disease that affects the vision and is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The route of transmission is via direct contact, flies that have been in contact with an infected person, or sharing clothes. The consequence of trachoma is irreversible blindness - the leading cause of blindness of infectious disease.

Schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia, is an infectious disease that is caused by parasitic worms. Globally, more than 200 million people have been impacted by this disease. The causative agent lives in freshwater snails which eventually enter the water of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. People are affected by the parasite via skin contact - the parasite penetrates into the skin of people. Human diseases mostly occur with Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum, or S. haematobium. 

Unlike commercial radio, community radio works with local communities and helps in catering their specific needs and necessities and works as an innovative tool in bringing social change. Community radios can cover a wide range of topics, including literacy, numeracy, health, farm production, housing improvements, family and personal relationships, sport and leisure. 

The Response Innovation Lab is our ecosystem partner for Uganda.

Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is an infectious disease that is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. The infection is transmitted by Simulium blackflies through a bite. It is the second leading infectious disease that results in vision loss. Unlike other diseases, this disease requires repeated bites for an infection to happen. The disease is also called river blindness because the fly breeds in streams and rivers and leads to vision loss. Onchocerciasis is prevailing in remote rural areas which makes those who live or work in these areas more at risk.