This UNICEF initiative reminds developers that innovation is not only about mobile apps

Today marks 25 years of CRC. And, kampala, Uganda is the proud host of the event to commemorate the milestone.

Uganda was selected as the host country for the first of a series of 10 ACTIVATE talks around the world to mark 25 years since the signing of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). This follows UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2014 Report: ‘Innovating for Children, Innovating for Equity’

To kick off a series of global events on innovation, UNICEF Uganda put the spotlight on innovations that help children from pre-birth to adulthood:

Malaria, the number one killer of children in Uganda, is detected in a pregnant woman using an android app, without drawing blood, the app is called Matibabu.

Matibabu “we are looking at creating a solution for a African problem.81% of those dying of malaria are children” #UNICEFactivate @ntvuganda

— UNICEF Uganda (@UNICEFUganda) February 28, 2014

MobileVRS, a mobile phone birth registration service that runs by SMS. A baby is born and registered via sms, offering the baby full protection through a birth certificate.

“How can a government plan when we don’t have data on children who r being born?” MobileVRS-Birth registration #UNICEFactivate URSB

Advertisement - Continue reading below

— UNICEF Uganda (@UNICEFUganda) February 28, 2014

A mother gets advice from a the medical concierge group limited about her sick toddler, for free.

We have Geo-maps of hospitals we can take you when you call 0417747000 for The Medical Concierge. – Dr Bwanika #UNICEFActivate

— SMSMediaUganda (@SMSMediaUganda) February 28, 2014

A kid in school no longer dreads going near the pit latrines at school because a special ‘EMO’ solution keeps them odourless.

A young woman uses U-report along with 250,000 of her peers to make their voices heard and influence policies that affect their lives.

There are over 5million youth w disabilities in Uganda – a really big number. U-Report has helped give our challenges voice #UNICEFActivate

— Simon Kaheru (@skaheru) February 28, 2014

These are just some of the innovations transforming the lives of Ugandan children on a daily basis.

The question deliberated upon throughout the event was: is innovation more than mobile apps?

Image via UNICEF