INNOVATIONS
Our innovations relate directly to our fourth activity:
Develop lifesaving tools, kits, interventions, innovative technologies, governance models and theories to reduce the burden of maternal mortality, snakebite mortality, drowning mortality during disasters, and tsunami mortality through evidence-based pioneering research on hazards, exposures, vulnerability and risks.
The previous and ongoing innovations are outlined below.
Knowledge-Exchange Network
The Knowledge-Exchange Network (KEN) platform (work in progress) is also referred to as a Knowledge-Sharing Network (KSN) in older documents. A KEN would foster i) dialogue and discussions within and across stakeholder locations; ii) coordination, cooperation, and communication amongst stakeholders for resource-sharing and response at local levels; iii) identify scope for transformative interdisciplinary research; and iv) improve the capacity of local stakeholders.
Publications
Ray-Bennett, N.S. MacLeod, L. Biswas, I. Samuel, S.P. Shiroshita, H. and Glovinsky, S. (2023) Exploring the Feasibility and Value of Pioneering Partnerships to Reduce Avoidable Snakebite Deaths in India. UK and Japan: Avoidable Deaths Network Publication. https://www.avoidable-deaths.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PROCEEDINGS-REPORT-publishable.pdf
Avoidable Deaths Network (2023) Proceedings Report – Launch of a Global Campaign: International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD). UK and Japan: Avoidable Deaths Network Publication. https://iad4ad.avoidable-deaths.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IAD4AD-Proceedings-published.pdf
Avoidable Deaths Framework
The Avoidable Deaths Framework (ADF) (work in progress) is a research project that aims to capture the number of avoidable deaths from the effects of COVID-19 and economic lockdown in India (first phase), and how can we reduce disaster deaths that are avoidable. The number of deaths from the effects of COVID-19 is understood through the lens of an ‘avoidable disaster deaths perspective’, one that understands disaster deaths are both avoidable and unavoidable, and avoidable disaster deaths are of three types: amenable, preventable and disaster risk governance. The project is ongoing.
Low-Budget Protocol for Facility Reproductive Health Kit and Crisis Reproductive Health Kit
The Low-budget protocol for Facility Reproductive Health Kit and Crisis Reproductive Health Kit (2021) was a protocol developed for two low-budget reproductive health (RH) kits.
The Facility and Crisis RH Kits are designed for the management of post-abortion complications including incomplete, septic and spontaneous abortion (before and after 12 weeks of missed menstruation). The former Kit is specifically designed to be used during disasters and humanitarian crises at primary, as well as secondary health facilities. The latter Kit is designed to be lightweight so that service providers can carry it to emergency response facilities (e.g., flood-cum-cyclone shelters, safe homes, and refugee camps or any temporary disaster camps).
The Kits are designed on the principle of localisation and to save women and girls of reproductive age during disasters and crises.
Funded by Economic and Social Research Council [ES/X004732/1] Dr Nibedita Ray-Bennett is starting the prototyping of the RH Kits from 1st September 2023. The collaborators for this phase are Data Management Aid and Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Programme (RHSTEP).
Publication
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D.M., Khan, S.T., Haseen, F., Bhuiyan, M. and Goswami, N. 2021. Introducing Reproductive Kits for Facility and Crisis Set-Ups. IPPF-South Asia Region Office: New Delhi. https://www.ippfsar.org/resource/introducing-reproductive-health-kits-facility-crisis-set-bangladesh
Integrated Intervention Package RHCC
The Integrated Intervention Package RHCC (2019) is designed to improve the quality and availability of post-abortion care during a major flood at primary health care level with the overall aim of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity (SDG3, Sendai Target A)). The RHCC has three components: i) pre-positioning of Reproductive Health Kit prior to flooding; ii) Capacity building of health workers; and iii) Community awareness raising. The evidence-based RHCC package was first tested in Belkuchi, Bangladesh. The RHCC comes with a Structured Facility Assessment Tool and a Two-Step Checklist Facility Assessment Tool. These tools are designed to assess the capacity of the facilities for sexual and reproductive services including menstrual regulation and post-abortion care during disasters and humanitarian crises.
Publications
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D., Goswami, N. and Bhuiyan, M. 2021. ‘RHCC Intervention: Strengthening the delivery and coverage of sexual and reproductive health care during floods in Bangladesh’ International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 14(4): 327-347 https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-11-2020-0098
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D., Goswami, N. and Ghosh, A. 2019. ‘Understanding reproductive health challenges during a flood: Insights from Belkuchi Upazila, Bangladesh’, Gates Open Research 2019(3): 788. http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/gatesopenres.12920.2
Ray‑Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D., Goswami, N. and Jackson, P. 2019. ‘Challenges and opportunities around reproductive health during a flood: Insight from Belkuchi upazila, Bangladesh’. ContributingPaper to Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2019.
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D.M. and Goswami, N. 2019. Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities Around Reproductive Health in Disasters in Belkuchi Upazila, Bangladesh. IPPF Publication: London. https://www.ippf.org/resource/improving-quality-and-availability-post-abortion-care-humanitarian-crisis
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D.M. and Goswami, N. 2019. RHCC: Facilitating Opportunities for Reproductive Health Care during a Flood in Bangladesh. IPPF Publication: London. https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/201904/IPPF%20Innovation%20Policy%20Brief%20PAC.pdf
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D.M. and Goswami, N. 2019. RHCC: Improving the Quality of Post Abortion Care during Floods in Belkuchi, Bangladesh. IPPF Publication: London. https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/20104/IPPF%20Innovation%20Policy%20Brief%20RHCC%20Approach_0.pdf
Ray-Bennett, N.S., Corsel, D.M. and Goswami, N. 2019. What do I do If I experience Complications After Receiving Post Abortion Care, IEC Poster, IPPF Publication: London. (English and Bengali).https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/201904/IPPF%20Innovation%20Policy%20Brief%20PAC.pdf
Systems Failure Approach
The Systems Failure Approach (2018): The research monograph Avoidable Deaths presents systems failure as an analytical tool to explain why deaths occur in disasters and how they may be reduced. The systems failure approach demonstrates that deaths in disasters are socio-technical failures, and that it is by rectifying systems failures and promoting systems alignment that deaths can be prevented.
Publications
Coetzee, J. and McLeod, L. (2022) ‘The Key Role of Women in Preventing Disaster Related Avoidable Deaths’, Intersectionality of Women Led Disaster Preparedness and Resilience, 197: Southasiadisasters.net. https://reliefweb.int/report/india/intersectionality-women-led-disaster-preparedness-and-resilience-southasiadisastersnet
Ray-Bennett, N.S. and Shiroshita, H. 2019. Disasters, Deaths and the Sendai Framework’s Target One: A Case for Systems Failure in Hiroshima Landslide 2014, Japan. Disaster Prevention and Management, 28 (6): 764-785 https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-09-2019-0302
Ray-Bennett, N.S.and Shiroshita, H. 2019. Disasters, Deaths and the Sendai Framework’s Target One: A Case for Systems Failure in Hiroshima Landslide 2014, Japan. Contributing Paper to Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2019. https://www.preventionweb.net/files/66627_f424finalnibeditas.raybennettdisast.pdf
Ray-Bennett, N.S. 2018. Avoidable Deaths: A Systems Failure Approach to Disaster Risk Management. Springer Nature: Switzerland. Environmental Hazard Series. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-66951-9
Ray-Bennett, N.S. 2017. Disasters, Deaths and the Sendai Goal One: Lessons from Odisha, India. World Development. 103(2018): 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.10.003 Ray-Bennett, N.S. 2016. Learning from Deaths in Disasters: The Case of Odisha, India. MEI Middle East-Asia Project (MAP) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: Rising to the Challenge? MAP Bulletin. http://www.mei.edu/content/map/learning-deaths-disasters-case-odishaindia