“According to a report by the United Nations, 75% of the health infrastructure in India  – including doctors and specialists and other health resources – is concentrated in urban areas where only 27% of India’s population lives. The rural population of India is around 716 million people (72%) and yet there is a chronic lack of proper medical facilities for them.” (futurechallenges.org, 2013)

As in many parts of the world, in Tamil Nadu, India, there is a divide between cities and rural areas when it comes to available healthcare services.  With the ubiquitous use of mobile phones and increased vehicular access in rural India, there is now an opportunity to enhance mobile health services in rural regions and contribute to the advancement of healthcare services across the globe. 

mHealth (or mobile health) applications have the potential to change when, where, and how healthcare and health information are provided. Using mobile phones and connected vehicles, it is now possible to combine important social, behavioral, and environmental data to improve health outcomes. (Adapted from National Institutes of Health)

You can make a difference.

Ford is asking you to help those living in the rural regions of Tamil Nadu, India by extending the reach of health care services to them. 

To get started, take a look at the challenge requirements below and visit the Resources page for links to relevant data, open source projects, and more. Don’t forget to click the “Register” button to make sure you receive all important challenge updates.

What is SUMURR?

Sustainable Urban Mobility with Uncompromised Rural Reach (more commonly known as SUMURR) is a Ford framework that focuses on positively impacting communities in developing nations. Using Ford vehicles and increasingly connected technologies, the SUMURR program seeks to address critical social needs, such as health care, in rural areas across the globe.

“SUMURR exemplifies how Ford is using its global reach to address regional issues and causes around the world, and at the same time identifying local social and technology entrepreneurs that we can partner with to further develop the kind of solutions that will shape our future.” (K. Venkatesh Prasad, “Case Study: Saving Lives in Rural India”)

USD$30,000 in prizes

1. Read the Official Rules to confirm you meet all eligibility requirements.
2. “Register” to access the submission form and start your draft.
3. Create a working solution that meets the requirements above, a demonstration video, and some images to represent your solution.
4. Provide a way for us to access your solution. 
5. Submit before the deadline!

• Quality of the Idea
  Includes creativity and originality of the idea.
• Implementation of the Idea
  Includes how well the idea was executed by the developer.
• Potential Impact
  Includes the solution’s potential to extend the reach of health services to rural residents and empower health care providers in rural Tamil Nadu, India.