16/09/20

Pandemic tech innovation silver lining

Copyright: Dominic Chavez/World Bank, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

We encourage you to republish this article online and in print, it’s free under our creative commons attribution license, but please follow some simple guidelines:

You have to credit our authors.
You have to credit SciDev.Net — where possible include our logo with a link back to the original article.
You can simply run the first few lines of the article and then add: “Read the full article on SciDev.Net” containing a link back to the original article.
If you want to also take images published in this story you will need to confirm with the original source if you're licensed to use them.
The easiest way to get the article on your site is to embed the code below.

For more information view our media page and republishing guidelines.

The full article is available here as HTML.

Press Ctrl-C to copy

<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Pandemic tech innovation silver lining</h1>
<h4></h4>
</div>
<br />
<br />

<div id="article-body">
<div id="buzzsprout-player-5467951"></div>
<p><script src="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257893/5467951-pandemic-tech-innovation-silver-lining.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-5467951&player=small" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px 7px; height: 40px; width: 165px;" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/africa-science-focus/id1526509178?uo=4" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Apple Podcasts</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -53px; height: 40px; width: 106px;" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2m6poWeZPx2F1KeKHxXph9" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Spotify</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -113px; height: 40px; width: 165px;" href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjU3ODkzLnJzcw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Google Podcasts</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -173px; height: 40px; width: 111px;" href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/africa-science-focus" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Stitcher</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -233px; height: 40px; width: 120px;" href="https://overcast.fm/login" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Overcast</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -293px; height: 40px; width: 162px;" href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/84c899ed-bc56-45ef-9a82-e31d8270daa8/AFRICA-SCIENCE-FOCUS" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Amazon Music</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -353px; height: 40px; width: 120px;" href="https://castbox.fm/channel/id3207143?utm_campaign=ex_share_ch&utm_medium=exlink&country=gb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Castbox</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -413px; height: 40px; width: 162px;" href="https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/3063514" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Podcast Addict</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -473px; height: 40px; width: 150px;" href="https://pca.st/ku8esadk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Pocket Casts</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -533px; height: 40px; width: 140px;" href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-africa-science-focus-71518179/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on iHeartRadio</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -593px; height: 40px; width: 115px;" href="https://www.pandora.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">Listen on Pandora</a><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #000000; background-image:inherit; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius: 5px; margin: 0 5px 5px 0; text-indent: -9000px; background-position: 10px -653px; height: 40px; width: 121px;" href="https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1257893.rss" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-bg-image="url('https://www.buzzsprout.com/images/badges/listen-on-embed.svg')" class="lazyload">RSS Feed</a></p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Episode 7</strong></p>
<p><em>Africa Science Focus</em> is back with another exciting episode looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic is inspiring health and education innovations. Young developers in Africa are changing the face of innovation with new ventilators, face masks and gloves, as well as digital learning.</p>
<p>“These new innovations are pushing us towards the new normal, the new trend in the world that is towards technology” says Victor Sesay, director of technology and innovation in Sierra Leon’s ministry of Technical and Higher Education.</p>
<p>Joseph Kallah, an innovator from Sierra Leone, who has created an electronically controlled handwashing bucket, says that Africa’s developers want to change the world — but in a simple way.</p>
<p>But, will a lack of funding hold them back?</p>
<p>If you want to know anything about developments in science and health in Africa, send us your science questions for the experts — message WhatsApp +254799042513<strong>.</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Africa Science Focus</strong></em><strong>, with Selly Amutabi.</strong></p>
<hr />
<div><strong><em>This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill <em style="font-family: CaeciliaCom-55Roman, TimesNewRoman, serif; font-size: 18px;">&</em> Melinda Gates Foundation.</em></strong></div>
<table style="width: 600px;" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<figure class="article-image left-image">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gatesfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_GFoundation.jpg" alt="Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation" width="318" height="100" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 318px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 318/100;" /><noscript><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_GFoundation.jpg" alt="Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation" width="318" height="100" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 318px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 318/100;" /><noscript><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_GFoundation.jpg" alt="Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation" width="318" height="100" /></noscript></noscript></a></div>
</figure>
</td>
<td>
<figure class="article-image left-image">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ejc.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_EJC.jpg" alt="EJC" width="229" height="100" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 229px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 229/100;" /><noscript><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_EJC.jpg" alt="EJC" width="229" height="100" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" class="lazyload" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 229px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 229/100;" /><noscript><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/site_assets/adverts/Logo_EJC.jpg" alt="EJC" width="229" height="100" /></noscript></noscript></a></div>
</figure>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>

</div>
<div class="quick-links-wrapper">
<h3>You might also like</h3>
[related-articles]
</div>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/africa-science-focus/pandemic-tech-innovation-silver-lining-1x/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(e,t,n,r,i,s,o){e["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=i;e[i]=e[i]||function(){(e[i].q=e[i].q||[]).push(arguments)},e[i].l=1*new Date;s=t.createElement(n),o=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];s.async=1;s.src=r;o.parentNode.insertBefore(s,o)})(window,document,"script","//www.google-analytics.com/ga.js","ga");var _gaq=_gaq||[];var _gaq=_gaq||[];_gaq.push(["_setAccount","UA-3223906-8"],["_trackEvent","article interaction","republished","https://www.scidev.net/global/africa-science-focus/pandemic-tech-innovation-silver-lining-1x/",null,true])
</script>
</div>

Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Stitcher Listen on Overcast Listen on Amazon Music Listen on Castbox Listen on Podcast Addict Listen on Pocket Casts Listen on iHeartRadio Listen on Pandora RSS Feed

Episode 7

Africa Science Focus is back with another exciting episode looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic is inspiring health and education innovations. Young developers in Africa are changing the face of innovation with new ventilators, face masks and gloves, as well as digital learning.

“These new innovations are pushing us towards the new normal, the new trend in the world that is towards technology” says Victor Sesay, director of technology and innovation in Sierra Leon’s ministry of Technical and Higher Education.

Joseph Kallah, an innovator from Sierra Leone, who has created an electronically controlled handwashing bucket, says that Africa’s developers want to change the world — but in a simple way.

But, will a lack of funding hold them back?

If you want to know anything about developments in science and health in Africa, send us your science questions for the experts — message WhatsApp +254799042513.

Africa Science Focus, with Selly Amutabi.

This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.