Innovation Convention celebrates Access and Quality to Care

On Friday the 22nd of November 2024, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness hosted the Innovation Convention 2024 (iCon24). Starting as a small marketplace initiative named CAIR² Club several years ago where best practices and innovations were shared, it has now culminated into a provincial celebration, showcasing numerous innovations across the province and advancements in healthcare. The convention includes a competition element, where finalists who have presented on the day have undergone a submission and shortlisting process. A total of six finalists presented their respective innovations to a panel of judges and the audience. 

This year's Innovation Convention Award was awarded to Dr Masudah Paleker, Public Health Medicine Specialist for the department's Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain areas, who represented on behalf of a collaborative team and showcased a Multisectoral Approach to Reducing Adolescent Pregnancies. This multisectoral collaboration brings sexual and reproductive health directly to adolescents, reducing pregnancies and fostering resilience. Nearly 120 000 girls between 15 -19 years, became mothers in South Africa between April 2023 and March 2024, emphasising the importance of projects like these.  

"Winning the provincial Innovation Convention 2024 is an incredible honour and a testament to the power of innovation in addressing critical public health challenges such as adolescent pregnancy. Innovation is not just about new ideas; it is about rethinking the way we collaborate, listen, and respond to the needs of our communities. For me, this recognition affirms that when we take a multisectoral approach, bringing together government, educators, healthcare providers, and communities, we can create meaningful change. This award is not just a win for our programme and for the Klipfontein and Mitchell’s Plain team; it is a reminder that investing in young people’s futures is an investment in a healthier, more equitable society," says Dr Paleker.

Besides serving as a catalyst to showcase innovations throughout the province, one of the fundamental goals for iCon24 is to find solutions to improve the lives of patients while embodying the Western Cape Government’s values of Innovation, Responsiveness, and, most importantly, Care through the department's person-centred approach. A variety of innovations were showcased on the day; these included:

• The Ancillary Health Care Worker Project, presented by Angelique Theron. This project integrates health services into farm communities, empowering workers, improving access in rural communities, and strengthening partnerships for sustainable healthcare delivery.
• Clinician Facing Administrative Support, presented by Dr Almero Oosthuizen and Michelle Page. This initiative reduces administrative burdens to enhance clinical services, governance, and staff wellness.
• The Community Health Worker (CHW) TB Tag App, presented by Jason Julies. This innovation revolutionalises tuberculosis treatment adherence with a mobile app that empowers CHWs to reduce loss to follow-up (LTFU).
• The Tygerberg FPS Positive Identification Initiative, which was presented by Dr Janette Verster, expedites the identification of unknown deceased individuals to provide closure for families and reduce operational costs.
• An Online Asset Verification Tool, presented by Shaheen Burton, streamlines asset verification and consumable supply to enhance accountability and service delivery in ambulance operations.

Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister for Health and Wellness, said, “Innovation is not just a buzzword for the Western Cape Government; it is a cornerstone of how we work, grow, and adapt to the challenges of our time. It’s what allows us to do more with less, to meet the growing demands on our healthcare system, and to continually improve the lives of the people we serve. Initiatives like iCon2024 foster a culture of innovation within the provincial government which ensures that we can increase access to high quality care.”

Dr Keith Cloete, Head of Department for Western Cape Government Health and Wellness shared, "Healthcare innovation is not just about new technologies or groundbreaking treatments; it is about reimagining the way we deliver care through creativity, empathy, and science, guided by the needs of our patients. It is the relentless pursuit of excellence that improves lives, breaks down barriers, and creates more accessible, equitable, and sustainable health and well-being. True innovation challenges the status quo and inspires collaboration toward healing, hope, and humanity. We celebrate our staff members who put these inspiring ideas into practice."

Leilah Najjaar, Director of Clinical Service Improvement, spearheads the planning team for the event and shares, "ICon24 serves as a nexus for collaboration, facilitating the development of innovative solutions that contribute significantly to our healthcare system’s growth and effectiveness. These innovations have consistently driven improvements in patient care, optimised our processes, and fostered cost-effective solutions—key outcomes that align with our strategic goals. The invaluable networking and knowledge exchange facilitated by this event underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing complex healthcare challenges."

The event has grown significantly during the past few years and has seen the addition of flash talks, the display of posters, and the introduction of exhibitors from healthcare partners and stakeholders. This year, six innovators presented their flash talks by way of short pitches showcasing their innovations in the workspace. A bustling collaborative and creative space allowed healthcare stakeholders the opportunity to gather and share their experiences where novel solutions and practices were implemented across the health system. "The event serves as a launchpad for new ideas and inspires participants to approach healthcare challenges with fresh perspectives, with an eye towards future growth and expansion," says Mrs Najjaar.

Dr Juanita Arendse, Chief Director for the sector Emergency and Clinical Services Support, explained that the intention to increase the provincial span of iCon24 is to celebrate the numerous ways healthcare workers have fought to find ways of providing services even more efficiently and continue to streamline work processes creatively, a true example of this year's theme for the event, innovating for access and quality! "Our teams have been working tremendously hard, and this past year has seen our department dealing with various communicable disease outbreaks, major incidents, extreme weather conditions and its consequences, and increasing workload pressures on our health system. Today's celebration, however, like all the prior iCons and Innovation Indabas within the department, reminds us that we have many individuals and teams who still get many things right, that we still have committed colleagues within this health system, and that we still have the passion needed to hold each other."

The improvement of access to quality care cannot be done without hard-working and supportive partners and stakeholders. 

"I am thrilled that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is part of this year’s Innovation Conference, an inspiring event that brings together innovative minds and dedicated partners to address some of the most pressing health challenges in the Western Cape. This conference not only showcases the transformative power of innovation but also highlights the value of strong partnerships in creating sustainable, impactful solutions tailored to local needs," says Heather Smith-Taylor, Director: Bilateral Health Office, USAID Southern Africa.

Mrs Najjar commended the innovators for their dedication and vision, which ultimately contribute toward a stronger and more innovative healthcare system. "We extend heartfelt congratulations to all the participants who entered this year's competition. You are true innovators and should be commended for inspiring others and for your commitment to improving the health of the citizens in our province."