haPPE

Describe the problem your solution addresses? (150 word limit)

The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the uneven and often inequitable distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE). From masks to respirators to the humble hand sanitizer, life-saving equipment has been in great demand and scarce supply. The World Health Organization (WHO) even reported that the shortage of PPE poses a serious risk to the lives of healthcare workers who are already risking their lives to keep us healthy. To compound the issue, much of the PPE shortage is caused by supply chain and distribution issues, not manufacturing and outside of healthcare, these shortages predominantly affect already vulnerable low-income, BIPOC populations.

Why did you pick this solution and how does it address the problem? (150 word limit)

haPPE is a marketplace for individual to individual transactions of personal protective equipment (PPE) that takes location and desired amount of PPE into account which allows for greater distribution efficiency; PPE is not wasted and those in need are able to receive it in a more timely manner. The app acts as a distributor: rather than a single household having lots of PPE and another household nearby lacking access to PPE, haPPE is a medium to spread PPE based on inventory and location to help fight infections in the community. This solution fixes the problem of the inequitable distribution of PPE as distribution efforts are severely reduced and has become a collaborative, local effort to provide protection against infectious diseases. In at-risk and underprivileged communities, PPE distribution networks such as haPPE can protect them from infections, thus reducing death and hospitalization rates.