| CHAPTER BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHAPTER |
PROJECT TYPE(S) INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFORMATION SYSTEMS |
| PROJECT Naluja, zambia information systems cell phone signal amplification |
PROJECT PHASE Design |
| PROJECT ADOPTION DATE August 2011 |
DIRECTLY AFFECTS 1000 |
| FUNDS NEEDED $30,000.00 |
INDIRECTLY AFFECTS 15000 |
| THE NEED |
| During our assessment trip to Naluja, Zambia in August 2012, we learned that water quality and sanitation, cell phone reception, and power are the community’s most urgent needs. Due to the presence of coliform bacteria in most water supplies, the community has high sickness rates. Additionally, poor cell phone reception delays the infant HIV test results at the Naluja Clinic, suspending the necessary and important treatment of antibiotics and other medications during a crucial time in the first months of life. Power problems also plague the Clinic, furthering the delay in treatment. |
| PROJECT SCOPE |
| Our group hopes to help Naluja through the development of sustainable, local solutions. To address the cell phone reception issue, we have designed and tested prototypes for an antenna, which specifically addresses the Naluja Clinic\'s problem of obtaining timely HIV test results. At present, we are also researching water quality and sanitation, and power, which the entire community will benefit from. The Naluja community is large (15,000 people), so we will conduct tests in smaller parts and adjust the project scale accordingly to improve quality of life for Nalujan residents. |
| FUTURE INVOLVEMENT |
| Our plan is to partner with the Naluja Community for a minimum of 5 years. Both the community and our chapter will share equal responsibility for the project. Our team is committed to the community and plans to determine solutions and logistics. In turn, we expect the community to take part through implementation and maintenance of the project. We will discuss any additional projects with our contacts in Naluja, and address them based on priority. A combined assessment (water quality and sanitation, power) and implementation (cell phone reception) trip is planned for summer of 2013. |
