Swazi Observer

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ESWATINI INVITED TO JOIN US TECH, INNOVATIVE COMPETITIONS

By Nokuzola Thwala | 2024-11-09

Eswatini has been invited to join two prestigious competitions next year as part of the ongoing collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government on digital transformation,

These are the Govtech prize 2025, which recognises government entities worldwide for creative and innovative solutions that address social challenges and create an exceptional government service experience.

Another one is the global best M-gov Award 2025, which celebrates creativity and civic engagements of students worldwide, emphasising the role of universities creativity and innovative youth in addressing local and global challenges for a better world.

This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Savannah Maziya, who was represented by the Principal Secretary (PS) Phesheya Dube at the Code for Care Health Hackathon 2024 prize presentation held at the Held the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP), at Nokwane yesterday.

The Code for Care Health Hackathon 2024 brought together 13 young innovators who worked intensively over 48 hours to develop digital health solutions that address the unique challenges faced by adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Eswatini.

Throughout the hackathon, participants received training in user-centred design for health and coding, enabling them to create meaningful, impactful projects within the timeframe.

The minister said three student teams will be honoured, with the top winner prize set at E875 000 (US$50 000 and the second prize set at E437 500 (US$25 000) and the third prize at E175 000 ($10 000).

Maziya urged the youth to seize the opportunity and participate in the global best M-gov award, which she said was a unique platform to showcase creativity and technological solutions on a global stage, affirming that Eswatini is indeed a hub of innovative talent.

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“The youth participation will not only enhance the country's visibility in digital transformation but also allow us to export our homegrown solutions, demonstrating that our youth can compete with the best worldwide.

Let us make Eswatini proud by developing forward-thinking, impactful technologies that address real-world challenges. Together, we can prove that Eswatini’s young minds are a force to be reckoned with in the global tech arena,” she said.

Adding, she said the event exemplified their strategy, with focus on user-centred digital health solutions that address critical healthcare needs, particularly those of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) facing unique barriers to care.

Through creative solutions that improve patient data management, enhance disease surveillance and promote telemedicine, she said the projects reflect the kind of forward-thinking approach that is essential to addressing Eswatini’s healthcare challenges.

She also appreciated the Georgetown University’s centre for global health practice and impact. She said their partnership and support of the ministry’s vision was unparalled.

“We must acknowledge the challenges we face in maximising the potential of these technologies, particularly among our youth in underserved communities.

This hackathon provides the perfect platform to innovate around these challenges. By harnessing digital tools, we can make impactful strides in healthcare access, delivery and awareness fulfilling our shared vision of a digitally empowered Eswatini.

The objectives of this hackathon which include promoting innovation, empowering youth and ensuring alignment with Eswatini’s national priorities are fundamental steps towards building a sustainable digital health ecosystem,” added the minister.

Hackathon participants had remarkable capability - RSTP

Representing the RSTP Board, acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Andile Metfula noted that what stood out during the hackathon was the remarkable capability of the participants.

He said they solved local challenges using digital tools.
He said the solutions were not only creative but also grounded in the real needs of the community.

He said they hoped to achieve positive user centre digital health solutions that will improve access to HIV prevention, and health services for AGYW.

Through the initiative, he said they aimed to leverage on the power of mobile health technologies to address the unique challenges that are faced, while also contributing to the fight against HIV.

He added that the hackathon demonstrated that the youth were tomorrow’s leaders and the problem solvers of today, the ideas and solutions indicated that the young people can provide meaningful changes given the right space and tools.

“In the longest time, we have consumed services that were not from this part of the world, not tailor made for the challenges, therefore, the needs of the people and the local populace was often excluded and the affected people often not included in the solutions.

There is nothing that beats a solution than a solution that has been developed locally.
projects

From the mobile applications to digital platforms, these projects maintain how technology can be harnessed to address health issues, empower young women and improve healthcare access, to all critical components of the fight against HIV in the kingdom,” he stated.

Khethukuthula Simelane spoke on behalf of the participants; she expressed gratitude to the organisers, sponsors and judges. She said the hackathon brought together different individuals from various fields, each with unique expertise, but all united by a common goal of tackling healthcare accessibility and finding innovative solutions to deliver healthcares services, while providing efficiency and convenience to healthcare workers and patients.

“This is also aimed encouraging adolescent girls and young women into taking initiatives on health.

Like any intensive event, we faced challenges such as tight deadlines and technical obstacles. However, these hurdles brought out the best in us as participants and came together, shared ideas and supported each other to pull through.

We are all excited about the possibilities of the future as we wrap up, many of the ideas borne hear today may lead to applications that can change lives.

This is not only for us, we look forward to application, the future of innovation and collaboration,” she said.

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