Empowering Low-Income Countries and Communities: Implementing Predictive Models for Adverse Health Outcomes of Heatwaves and Air Pollution

Shahan Salim

Funding Area: Critical shared infrastructure / Infraestructura compartida critica

Problem Statement: Climate change poses significant challenges to public health, exacerbating health inequities. Heatwaves and air pollution, key components of climate change, have adverse health outcomes, particularly impacting the aging population. IoT and big data advancements now allow accurate monitoring and prediction of air pollution and heatwaves, enabling swift actions to mitigate harm. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rapid data collection, particularly in protecting marginalized populations. To address these issues, we developed a heatwave and air quality prediction ecosystem, aiming to equip public health agencies with timely tools for adapting to climate change impacts. Unlike siloed data loggers, our approach offers remote data access via existing ecosystems, facilitating program implementation. Utilizing AI and ML, we pave the way for a sustainable and equitable future. Now, our focus is on seamlessly integrating the platform into Mongolia's public health system, understanding existing infrastructure and the needs of officials to tailor visualizations and tools for effective decision-making. Collaboration with UNICEF Mongolia ensures a user-friendly system that empowers authorities to mitigate the health effects of heatwaves and air pollution.

Proposed Activities: Proposed Activities and Details: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Mongolian public health system's existing technical infrastructure to identify potential areas of integration for the predictive platform. This analysis will encompass data storage systems, communication protocols, and hardware capabilities to maximize compatibility and efficiency during implementation. Engage in consultations and workshops with key stakeholders, including public health officials, researchers, and experts, to understand their specific needs and requirements regarding data visualization and decision-making tools. By collaborating closely with end-users, we can design user-friendly visualizations and dashboards that cater to their unique preferences and ensure the platform's relevance. Customize the predictive platform to align with the Mongolian public health system's data formats, protocols, and reporting mechanisms, ensuring seamless data exchange and integration. Adapting data processing algorithms and formats will minimize disruptions and enable real-time monitoring and decision-making. Collaborate with local IT teams and experts to address any technical challenges during the integration process. By working together, we can resolve issues related to software compatibility, data security, and infrastructure scalability, ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation. Develop user-friendly and intuitive visualizations and dashboards to present predictive insights in a clear and actionable manner for public health officials. Prioritizing user experience will empower officials to make informed decisions and respond effectively to heatwaves and air pollution. Conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions for public health officials to effectively utilize the platform. Covering platform functionalities, data interpretation, and decision-making, these workshops will enhance officials' ability to protect public health from the impacts of climate change. By focusing on these proposed activities, we are dedicated to ensuring the successful integration of the predictive platform into Mongolia's public health system. Through collaboration, customization, and capacity-building, we strive to create a transformative tool that empowers officials to make informed decisions and mitigate the health impacts of climate change.

Openness: The proposed work embraces openness, transparency, and collaboration with project partners NCPH (National Center for Public Health) and NAMEM (National Agency for Meteorology, Environment, and Green Development) in Mongolia. These partnerships ensure seamless integration and data exchange with the country's public health system and meteorological services. Engaging a broader community involves grassroots organizations like Breathe Mongolia, GERES, and People in Need NGO. Leveraging their expertise addresses challenges faced by vulnerable communities, promoting inclusivity in public health interventions. Consultations, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives gather valuable input from stakeholders, shaping the platform's development to address local needs related to climate change health risks. Open sharing of project output disseminates research findings, data visualizations, and documentation to benefit academia, scientific communities, partners, and grassroots organizations. This culture of openness fosters knowledge exchange and collective efforts in protecting public health amid climate change. Collaborating with NCPH, NAMEM, Breathe Mongolia, GERES, and People in Need NGO reflects our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring a meaningful impact on public health resilience and equity in Mongolia and beyond.

Challenges: Carrying out this work may present several challenges that require careful consideration and proactive mitigation strategies. One significant challenge lies in the technical infrastructure, which may not be fully developed or standardized across different regions in Mongolia. Inconsistent data storage systems, communication protocols, and hardware limitations may hinder the seamless integration of the predictive platform into the public health system. Language and expertise barriers can also pose challenges during project implementation. Engaging with stakeholders, including public health officials and local organizations, may be impeded by language differences and varying levels of technical expertise. Ensuring equitable use of technology is another critical challenge. We want to ensure that the benefits of the predictive platform are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location. Engaging with grassroots organizations such as Breathe Mongolia, GERES, and People in Need NGO will be vital in reaching marginalized communities and understanding their specific needs.

Neglectedness: To the best of our knowledge, there are other potential sources of funding available for this type of work. We have previously applied for the CCAI grant, which focused primarily on the technical aspects of the project. While our proposal made it to the top 15% of applications, it was not ultimately funded. Additionally, our work is partially covered by NSERC, but this funding is limited to graduate student work, restricting the scope of our project's financial support. Exploring alternative funding opportunities remains a priority, as we strive to secure comprehensive funding to support the implementation of our predictive platform and its integration into the Mongolian public health system.

Success: Success for the proposed work would be measured through several key indicators. Firstly, the successful integration of the predictive platform into the Mongolian public health system, enabling real-time monitoring and decision-making, would be a significant achievement. Secondly, positive feedback from public health officials and stakeholders, indicating user satisfaction and effective utilization of the platform, would be crucial. Additionally, a reduction in the adverse health impacts of heatwaves and air pollution, especially among vulnerable populations, would demonstrate the project's effectiveness. Lastly, successful community engagement and inclusive participation in decision-making processes would signify the project's impact in promoting health equity and resilience against climate change-related health risks. Collectively, these indicators would affirm the success of the proposed work in safeguarding public health and contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future in Mongolia.

Total Budget: $57,000

Affiliations: University of Waterloo

LMIE Carveout: Yes, our project fits within the category of initiatives focusing on Low and Middle Income Economies (LMIEs). We collaborate with UNICEF in Mongolia and grassroots organizations like Breathe Mongolia, GERES, and People in Need NGO. These partnerships enable us to work directly with communities in Mongolia, ensuring our services are widely adopted and benefitting LMIEs. The project's core team and working locations align with the LMIE context, reinforcing our commitment to promoting health equity and resilience in these communities.

Team Skills: The project team, led by Dr. Morita, boasts expertise in AI, IoT, and global health. The UbiLab team specializes in data ecosystems for public health surveillance, partnering with PHAC and UNICEF Mongolia. Mr. Salim's skills focus on implementing AI-based technologies for epidemiological purposes. Advisors provide valuable insights in remote sensing, big data, and climate change research. Collaborations with local partners and grassroots organizations ensure community involvement and relevance. This interdisciplinary and well-established expertise positions the team for success in developing predictive models and real-time indicators to support global public health initiatives, fostering health resilience in LMICs and beyond.

How Did You Hear About This Call: Word of mouth (e.g. conversations and emails from IOI staff, friends, colleagues, etc.) / Boca a boca (por ejemplo, conversaciones y correos electrónicos del personal del IOI, amigos, colegas, etc.)

Submission Number: 165