WDI conducted a review for the Global Fund with the goal of leveraging ongoing Diagnostic Network Optimization initiatives, as well as performance metrics in selected countries and other existing data sources on investments in GeneXpert technologies, to support robust cross-country comparisons, and develop a conceptual framework for addressing cost efficiency questions for multi-disease integrated testing platforms. The work entails developing a Theory of Change that recognizes the complex relationships between cost-efficiencies and other components of the Global Fund’s Value for Money concept, including effectiveness, equity and sustainability.
WDI is partnering with the U-M School of Engineering’s Global Health Design Initiative, the Aerospace Engineering department and a doctor in Ghana to iterate on a design of a hand rehabilitation device with an eye toward commercialization in a Ghana Rehabilitation facility. The latest prototype was produced using 3D printing and the new “Grip Forté” is currently being field tested in Ghana. The team is expanding the project building a 3D printed PETG recycling device.
Just over the border with Yuma, Arizona is the town of San Luis Río Colorado in Sonora, Mexico. Like many border communities, agricultural jobs dominate the local economy. In this community of around 200,000, Grupo OSME is a privately run medical clinic business, founded by Dr. Raúl Payán, focused on serving the health needs of agricultural workers and their families. Despite the success of the business, Payán explains that securing the necessary financing to expand OSME into a hospital has been a major challenge. But in early 2023, the North American Development Bank (NADB) and Grupo OSME signed a US$14.2 million loan agreement to finance construction of the medical complex. The deal was completed after WDI conducted due diligence on OSME’s expansion and business plans, which gave NADB the expert advice it needed to proceed with financing. The project includes the design, construction and operation of a private hospital with space for 67 beds, an emergency room, operating rooms, intensive care unit, medical imaging and laboratory, along with a medical specialties center. As the following video feature explains, at the time of this project, WDI was also developing a Healthcare Delivery Management Training program, following a request from the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation. Following a positive experience of the due diligence process, OSME requested training for its management team from WDI. As a result, OSME and a Ghanaian hospital were the first two businesses to participate in the course.
Henry Ford Health (HFH) has been doing work in the international space for more than 8 years. Expanding their international portfolio is part of the HFH strategic vision. This project provided research on t he regions t hat offer t he most opportunities and fit for W DI to pursue additional projects and partnerships that align with WDI’s existing portfolio of international projects.
The Global Fund works closely with countries to help them achieve long-term sustainability of health programs, so they can maintain progress and continue to expand services after Global Fund support ends. WDI is conducting an in-depth desk review for the Global Fund with the objectives of strengthening guidance for Global Fund countries to effectively implement Performance for Results (PfR) modalities, supporting the development of a PfR modality that is appropriate for the Global Fund context, and developing an approach that would provide support to the Global Fund countries and ensure that the National Strategic Plans for the next round of funding are appropriately costed.
FIND promotes affordable diagnostic tests for poverty-related diseases. WDI is creating a conceptual framework for them that describes their current and future areas of work, including many of the elements typically found in a strategy. To do so, WDI is digesting existing documents, meeting with the organization’s leadership and stakeholders and synthesizing this information to be understandable to a broad audience. The WDI team will deliver a short document and slide deck outlining the conceptual framework.
WDI is partnering with the U-M School of Engineering’s Global Health Design Initiative and the Aerospace Engineering department to iterate on a design of a hand rehabilitation device with an eye toward commercialization in a Ghana Rehabilitation facility. The initial prototype was constructed of wood and the next iteration will be produced using 3D printing. The team is exploring working with Hewlett Packard in Africa.