Bridging The Gap Hackathon

Please register and have some ☕ and 🍪

2025-01-20

Karibu Sana & Welcome

  • Who is here: Over 50 public health researchers, decision makers and software development experts from Kenya and UK.
  • Why we’re here: To solve health policy needs in Kenya, foster new ideas, and make meaningful connections.
  • What’s next: A week of collaboration, creativity, and ☕ & 🍪.

Housekeeping

  • Useful Info:
    • Facilities, plugs, fire exits, health needs, water etc
  • Wifi:
    • Network Name: NSC BY SWISS-BELHOTEL
    • Password: safari2024
  • Photographs:
    • We will be taking photos throughout for social media. Smile! 📷
  • Feedback and Questions:

Why are we here today?

  1. Saw the hackathon advertised and wanted to see what it was about.
  2. Wanted to leave the cold weather in the UK behind. 🥶 ✈️ ☀️
  3. To create free, open-source resources to support and facilitate evidence-informed decision making and address health policy needs in Kenya.

  1. All of the above

Why are we all here?

  • What brought us here is behind us - let’s try to focus on what we can do this week.

  • So let’s start by taking a moment to pause, breath and shift our focus to the space we are sharing this week.

  • Most importantly, this week is an opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and build useful tools and relationships from this hackathon.

What is a hackathon?

Meeting of individuals with diverse interests and skill sets, working in groups to build new software tools and solutions.

  • Step 1: Sharing ideas for questions to answer by building new software tools
  • Step 2: Sharing research skills and interests in the ideas shared
  • Step 3: Identifying the top ideas and software to work on
  • Step 4: Formation of groups to work on each identified project

Day 1 Schedule

  • Foundations and Team Formation:
    • 8.30 – 9.00: Registration
    • 9.00 – 10.30: Grounding, Introductions & Ice Breaker Activities
    • 11.00 – 12.00: Hackathon Challenge Presentations
    • 12.00 – 13.00: Idea Generation & Skills Sharing
    • 14.00 – 15.30: Challenge Refinement, Skills Matching & Team Building
    • 16.00 – 17.00: End of Day 1 Debrief

  • ☕ & 🍴 Breaks
    • ☕️: Tea breaks: 10.30 – 11.00, 15.30 – 16.00
    • 🍴: Lunch breaks: 13.00 – 14.00

Days 2 - 3 Schedule

  • Coding and Collaboration
    • 8.30 – 9.00: Grounding and plan for the day
    • 9.00 – 10.00 (Day 2 only): Git and GitHub refresher
    • 9.00 – 17.00: Dedicated time for project work in each working group, with guidance from facilitators.
    • 16.00 – 17.00: “Debrief the Day”. Group updates and plans for tomorrow.

Day 4 Schedule

  • Presentations and Feedback

    • 8.30 – 9.00: Grounding and plan for the day
    • 9.00 – 13.00: Dedicated time for project work, with guidance from facilitators.
    • 12.00 - 13:00 📷 Group Photo 📷
    • 14.00 – 17.00: Presentations and feedback
    • 18.30: Social/Dinner at Gaucho (Gaucho - Nairobi ?)

Day 5 Schedule

  • Refinement and Next Steps

    • 8.30 – 9.00: Grounding and plan for the day
    • 8.30 – 13.00: Project refinement based on feedback received
    • 14.00 – 16:00: Planning for further development of tools and outputs:
      • Conference Abstracts?
      • Journal Submission?
      • Grant Applications?
    • 16.00 – 17.00: Closing remarks, final feedback and thanks

Debrief The Day

Each day will close by reflecting in groups and sharing updates.

  1. Discussing in our groups:
    • What ground has been covered today?
    • What the group will be working on tomorrow?
    • What additional help may be needed?
    • How can we help you?
  2. Creating an update (2-3 minutes) to share with everyone:
    • What your group has been working on?
    • Any outputs to demonstrate?
    • Anything you have discovered?
    • Any help that may be needed tomorrow?

Debrief The Day - Feedback

  1. Sharing updates with everyone:
  • Each group will present any updates/questions
  1. Sharing feedback with organisers:
  • Throughout the hackathon, please use the feedback page to share your feedback or ask any questions that you would like answered:
  • At the end of the day, please also share any feedback as a group, which we will review overnight ready for the next day.

Introductions

Introductions

  • Time to introduce yourselves (in 10s):
    1. Name
    2. City/County, Country
    3. Job Title and 1 area of interest

  • “My name is OJ Watson. I am from London in the UK and I am a lecturer in infectious disease modelling, with a focus on malaria, at Imperial College London”

Introductions - Organizers

Introductions - Facilitators

  • What are facilitators?
  • Who are the facilitators in the room?

Ice Breaker Activity

  • Icebreaker Jenga
    • Split into groups of ~10
    • Take turns removing a block from the tower
    • Each block has a question on the block
    • Answer the question and place the block on the tower
    • Repeat until the tower falls over

Hackathon Topic Presentations

  1. Cold Chain Capacity Monitoring:
    • Streamline reporting and visualising vaccine cold chain capacity.
  2. Outbreak Alert Thresholds:
    • Refining epidemic thresholds for measles outbreak detection.
  3. Data Quality Validation:
    • Automating detection of anomalies in vaccine data for better accuracy.
  4. Schistosomiasis Elimination Strategies:
    • Conduct cost-effectiveness evaluation of elimination strategies.
  5. Malaria Vaccine Deployment:
    • Optimising malaria vaccination with with other interventions.
  6. Animal Surveillance Data Integration:
    • Unified platform for real-time animal health data analysis and reporting.

Enjoy a well-deserved break!

Topic Reading

Idea Generation

  • On the “Challenge Tables”, use the post-its to add brief descriptions of ideas or tools you think would be helpful in answering these topics?
  • If you have ideas for other relevant questions or tools for this 5-day hackathon you would like to build then add these to the “Further Ideas Board”

Skill Identification

  • On the “Skills Mirrors”, use the post-its to share:
    • What research or technical/software skills you have?
    • What questions you would like to work on?
    • Your first name and initial of last name, e.g. Oliver W
    • Your affiliation, e.g. CEMA
  1. Data Analysis & Statistics (Statistical analysis, Data analysis, Predictive modelling, Stochastic modelling)
  2. Machine Learning & AI (Machine learning, AI-driven solutions, Bayesian inference, Time-series prediction)
  3. Epidemiology & Modelling (Epidemiological modelling, Mathematical modelling, Infectious disease dynamics, Climate-sensitive VPDs)
  4. Public Health & Policy (Public health policy, Public health management, Evidence synthesis, Vaccine impact estimation)
  5. Health Economics (Health economics, Cost-effectiveness analysis)
  6. Software Engineering (Software development, R packaging,Python programming, Web applications)
  7. Data Engineering (Data algorithms, Database management, Interoperability, Integrations expert)
  8. Visualisation & Reporting (Data visualisation, Dashboards and tools)
  9. Communication & Knowledge Translation (Knowledge translation, Communications strategy)
  10. Project Management & Leadership (Project management, Leadership in public health)

Get Post-It Noting!

Challenge & Ideas Wall ⬅️

Brief descriptions of ideas

Skills Wall ➡️

Short skills description

🍴 Lunch Break 🍴

Project A: Cold Chain Capacity Monitoring

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Develop IoT-based cold chain monitoring sensors. Example: “Add an indicator in KHIS for monthly reporting of cold chain capacity and equipment functionality.”

  2. Create an app for real-time temperature alerts. Example: “Enable automated temperature monitoring with real-time notifications for deviations.”

  3. Design an automated cold chain capacity planner. Example: “Develop predictive models to estimate cold chain needs based on vaccine demand trends.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Philip M, Stephanie K, Bonventre A, Peninna N, Fathiya H, Peter M, Jackine N

Project B: Outbreak Alert Thresholds

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Develop a user-friendly data visualisation dashboard. Example: “Create visuals to track outbreak alerts and response timelines.”

  2. Automate data validation processes. Example: “Integrate systems to validate alert thresholds against historical data.”

  3. Implement a centralised database for data integration. Example: “Develop a unified platform to consolidate outbreak reports from multiple regions.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Stanley S, Giovanni C, Salmon G, Pius K, Ivy K, Florence A, Lydiah K, Amika P

Project C: Data Quality Validation

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Create a data quality scoring system. Example: “Automate data validation checks for anomalies in health records.”

  2. Design a dashboard for tracking data anomalies. Example: “Develop real-time analytics for monitoring data quality metrics.”

  3. Automate alerts for outliers in data submissions. Example: “Enable system-generated notifications for inconsistencies in vaccination data.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Ommet EO, Cosmas B, Muchiri Antony, Paul L, Katy G, Fred M

Project E: Malaria Vaccine Deployment

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Create a vaccine deployment tracker. Example: “Track malaria vaccine rollout progress at the sub-county level.”

  2. Develop GIS tools to map vaccine coverage. Example: “Visualise vaccine distribution areas to identify coverage gaps.”

  3. Design an algorithm to optimise vaccine distribution. Example: “Simulate distribution scenarios to ensure equitable vaccine access.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Tabitha O, Augustine M, Geoffrey G, Mumbua M, Daniel B, Pete W, Omar Ahmes, Anne K

Project F: Animal Surveillance Data Integration

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Develop spillover risk mapping tools. Example: “Map high-risk areas for zoonotic disease spillovers based on surveillance data.”

  2. Automate surveillance reporting systems. Example: “Streamline submission of surveillance data to improve reporting efficiency.”

  3. Implement interoperability features between animal and human surveillance. Example: “Integrate animal health data into human surveillance platforms for coordinated response.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Ryan M, Anne K, Purity K, Ruth M, Annah M, Mumbua M, Emmanuel O, Argni B

Project G: Workforce Estimation

Key Proposed Tools/Ideas:

  1. Develop a workforce simulation tool. Example: “Model staffing requirements for vaccination campaigns.”

  2. Create a training needs assessment platform. Example: “Identify skill gaps and design targeted training programs for health workers.”

  3. Design a dashboard to monitor workforce metrics. Example: “Track workforce deployment and utilisation in real-time.”

  • Assigned Participants:

    • Komundia G, Sabine van E, Ojal T, Penina MN, Francis M, Moses M

Internal Reflection:

For 3.15pm, please be able to answer the following:

  1. In your own words what does the challenge encompass? Can you describe it to the decision makers?
  2. What do you need from the decision makers to proceed:
  • What data may you need? Can this data be shared? Or “dummy” data made?
  • Do you need any additional software or general expertise?
  • What is the outcomes/output the decision maker wants to see on Thursday?

End of Day 1 - after Tea

  1. Discussing in your groups: What ground has been covered today? What the group will be working on tomorrow? What additional help may be needed?

  2. Creating an update (2-3 minutes) to share with everyone: What your group has been working on? Any outputs/ideas to share?

Enjoy a well-deserved break!

End of Day 1 - After Tea

  1. Github Usernames and Repositories:
  • Email your github username to paula.christen@cema.africa
  • We need everyone who is not a decision maker to be on Github :)
  • https://github.com/CEMA-MRC-Hackathon
  1. Uploading Project Plan to Github Repositories:
  • Each project family has a unique Github repository
  • Please add your projet plan fully to the repository
  • This can be in any form (photos of white board, documented README)
  1. Creating an update (2-3 minutes) to share with everyone:
  • Nominate someone in your group to share your updates
  • What your group has been working on?
  • Any outputs to demonstrate?
  • Anything you have discovered?
  • Any help that may be needed tomorrow?

Debrief The Day - Feedback

  1. Sharing updates with everyone:
  • Each group will present any updates/questions
  1. Sharing feedback with organisers:
  • Throughout the hackathon, please use the feedback page to share your feedback or ask any questions that you would like answered:
  • At the end of the day, please also share any feedback as a group, which we will review overnight ready for the next day.