Teenagers win innovation challenge with health solution

Nine teenage students have emerged winners of the InterswitchSPAK 1.0 Innovation Challenge, by collaborating to develop an innovative solution aimed at providing Nigerians with easy access to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Grouped into nine teams, the InterswitchSPAK finalists were tasked to develop solutions to three salient socio-economic issues, which were healthcare, public transport system, and education, focusing on the growing level of out-of-school teenagers as a challenge.

Winners of the challenge, Team Neptune, made up of nine Senior Secondary School Class Two (SSS2) students, were tasked to propose a solution that promotes an all-inclusive health insurance scheme in Nigeria, leveraging technology.

The nine-man team’s health solution, which incorporated the current NHIS, made provision for web doctors and policyholders for those with access to the internet, and telemedicine option for those without access.

Noting that many Nigerians prefer going to pharmacies for treatment, the team proposed that neighbourhood pharmacies be empowered with the health insurance scheme, to enable patients who consult web doctors to purchase prescribed drugs from partner pharmacies in their locality.

In his remarks, the Group Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele, said the InterswitchSPAK 1.0 Innovation Challenge is a segment of the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition, organised by Interswitch Foundation.

He said: “The idea behind the competition was to task these young ones on problem-solving with the use of technology. Throughout the challenge, we saw the students employ several problem-solving models, using technology. I believe it was quite a worthwhile experience.”

Following their announcement as the Innovation Challenge winner, Team Neptune will be presented with the InterswitchSPAK 1.0 Founder’s Award.