Ugandan Entrepreneurs Shine in Africa Young Innovators for Health Award
In a prestigious ceremony at the Galien Forum Africa, two Ugandan innovators, Dr. Ochora Moses and Mrs. Izath Nura, stood out as top winners in the second edition of the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award. The coveted first prize was secured by Mrs. Teniola Aderonke Adedeji from Nigeria, alongside Dr. Ochora, while Mrs. Izath Nura shared the second prize with Mr. Abdullahi Muhammad Habibu, also from Nigeria.
The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award serves as a pillar of support for emerging entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary financial and in-kind resources to advance their healthcare innovations, ultimately improving health outcomes within their communities.
In this second edition of the award, the spotlight was firmly fixed on innovations geared towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa. While numerous African governments have expressed their commitment to attaining UHC by 2030, it is evident that progress needs an injection of acceleration. The award aimed to recognize innovations capable of extending population and service coverage, as well as ensuring financial protection for patients.
Ugandan Health Innovations Driving Progress to UHC
Dr. Ochora Moses spearheads the innovative “Photo Kabada,” a remotely monitored, hybrid phototherapy machine designed to address the pressing issue of inadequate access to effective treatment for jaundice, a prevalent ailment among newborns. Photo Kabada serves as a comprehensive “one-stop center” for treating jaundiced infants, offering oxygen, warmth, vital sign monitoring, and jaundice treatment. Timely treatment of jaundice is critical, as its severe form can lead to permanent brain damage, resulting in conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or hearing and speech impairments. Photo Kabada’s hybrid design allows for operation using both the national grid’s conventional power and solar-powered batteries, with a runtime of at least 12 hours.
Dr. Moses Ochora expressed his gratitude upon receiving the first prize, stating, “The Photo-Kabada team is humbled by this Award. This is an opportunity for us to move closer to our dreams of getting out of the lab into the clinical space where sick babies are. The Award is also a testament to the fact that homegrown solutions are part of the drivers of Universal Health Coverage.”
Mrs. Izath Nura leads the dedicated team at Neosave Technologies, the brains behind “Autothermo.” This remarkable medical device combats neonatal mortality caused by hypothermia by enabling healthcare workers to swiftly identify and treat sick newborns. Autothermo plays a pivotal role in improving survival rates while reducing the workload of clinicians, including medical doctors, nurses, and midwives. The device facilitates continuous monitoring of newborns’ body temperatures from a remote central display, thereby allowing early detection of infants requiring thermal care.
Thomas Cueni, Director General of IFPMA, praised the winners and highlighted the organization’s unwavering commitment to accelerating innovation in pursuit of Universal Healthcare Coverage. Yacine Djibo, Executive Director and Founder of Speak Up Africa, stressed the importance of substantial public sector investment, accelerated governmental action, and the necessity of fresh, bold health innovations to achieve UHC by 2030.
The Thriving Landscape for Healthcare Innovation in Africa
Africa boasts the youngest population globally and one of the highest rates of entrepreneurship, providing a fertile ground for healthcare innovation. The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award represents the collaborative response of IFPMA and Speak Up Africa, serving as a flagship program for young entrepreneurs in the healthcare sector.
By 2050, the African population under 24 years old is projected to surge by nearly 50%. According to the African Development Bank, an impressive 22% of the continent’s working-age population is engaged in entrepreneurial ventures, marking the highest entrepreneurship rate worldwide. The combination of a youthful demographic and a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit presents a compelling opportunity for swift and positive economic and social transformation.
However, realizing this potential necessitates increased investment in human capital. The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award is poised to play a pivotal role in this regard, with its overarching goal being the enhancement of the entrepreneurial landscape in Africa, enabling the region’s young demographic to harness its immense potential for effecting change. At the local level, the award is dedicated to nurturing on-the-ground capacity for innovation.