Tag: Science & Technology

Nigerian Healthtech startup Field Intelligence expands operations in Kenya

Frank

KENYA – Field Intelligence, a healthtech company focused on digitizing public health supply chain to help pharmacies sell better, has set up in Kenya’s towns; Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu and Naivasha, as it strives to expand operations. The expansion will build on Field Intelligence’s more than 700 existing pharmacies, which have served over 1.4 million patients so far. The company has also expanded its operations into Nigeria’s Rivers, Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Delta and Kwara States. Statistics provided by Field Intelligence suggest that Nigeria has more than 4,500 registered pharmacies and…

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USAID announces US$30 million for research and innovation centers in Africa

Frank

LIBERIA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced new funding to create research and innovation centers in Liberia and Guatemala. Subject to availability of funds, USAID plans to provide US$30 million over the next five years for this initiative. In Liberia, the center will use research and build training capacity to address health system challenges. These two new awards add to the growing Higher Education Solutions Network portfolio at USAID focused on strengthening research systems in USAID partner countries. This US$15 million project establishes a public-private-academic hub…

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Healthtech startup RxALL raises US$3.15 million to scale up anticounterfeit technology

Frank

NIGERIA – RxAll, a health startup company based in the USA and in Nigeria, has announced a financing round of US$3.15 million to scale operations across existing markets and improve its drug checking and counterfeiting technology. This funding round combines a recently closed US$2 million seed round (which was oversubscribed by US$2.25 million) and a US$900,000 pre-seed round raised at the end of last year. The startup, founded in 2016 by Adebayo Alonge, Amy Kao and Wei Lui, has deployed deep technology to provide quality medication to patients in a…

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Vezeeta launches new SaaS solution to improve healthcare experiences

Frank

EGYPT – Vezeeta, the Middle East and Africa’s leading digital healthcare platform, is rolling out its B2B SaaS solution which enables healthcare entities, both small and large, to enhance their patients’ healthcare experiences through a digital-first approach. Launched in 2015 in Cairo, Vezeeta allows millions of patients across multiple countries in the Middle East and Africa to search, book and review the best doctors and medical services in just one minute. It also provides innovative SaaS solutions to thousands of healthcare providers listed on its platform. The company, which last…

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Kenyan scientists analyze sewage for antibiotic resistance given previous success in polio aversion

Frank

KENYA – Scientists in Kenya have managed to analyze the extent and state of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country from sewage samples collected in the country’s capital Nairobi. AMR refers to the phenomenon of disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria evolving to withstand attacks from medicine meant to eradicate them and is a deadly threat to human survival. In 2018, the Kenyan ministry of health discovered a vaccine-derived polio outbreak when studying sewage samples in Nairobi. They immediately launched a renewed polio campaign targeting 2.8 million children in high risk…

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Nanox signs agreement to deploy 1,000 medical imaging systems in Africa

Frank

NIGERIA – Medical imaging disrupter Nanox has announced signing of a new deal to send 1,000 of its digital X-ray systems and companion cloud service software to West Africa. The Israeli firm is partnering with EiLEENO Pharma, a Nigeria-based medical supply and equipment organization founded in 2018. Under the distribution deal, Nanox will deploy its Nanox Systems and cloud-based software across Nigeria. The medical imaging market is projected to reach US$693.4 billion by 2024 from US$539.7 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2019 to 2024. The major…

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South African e-health startup raises 7-figure seed capital for AI-based platform

Frank

SOUTH AFRICA – iNNOHEALTH, a South African e-health startup, has secured a seven-figure seed investment from an unnamed Hong Kong-based VC for its AI-based healthcare platform. Founded in 2020 by medical doctors Chad Marthinussen and Wade Palmer, and chartered accountant Abdul Malick Salie, iNNOHEALTH’s focus is on providing solutions for quality, affordable and equitable healthcare to everyone on the African continent. The AI-enabled healthtech offering is set to position iNNOHEALTH at the forefront of digital healthcare in South Africa, easing the delivery of crucial primary healthcare services and products. Covid-19…

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WHO statement on the clinical trial results of CVO+ remedy by Madagascar

Frank

MADAGASCAR – The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated that there is not yet a specific antiviral treatment whose safety and effectiveness are proven to treat COVID-19. Corticosteroids and medical oxygen remain essential in saving the lives of patients with severe cases of COVID-19. WHO has developed treatment guidelines and implemented a robust methodology to not only assess new evidence gathered by countries, but also to make recommendations when it comes to new COVID-19 treatments. If a traditional medicine product is found to be safe, effective and of guaranteed quality…

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Steve Biko Hospital unveils mobile robot to join intensive care patient treatment team

Frank

South Africa – The Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a purely tertiary healthcare institution rendering specialized and highly specialized services to medically referred patients in South Africa, has welcomed a mobile robot called Stevie to help improve the treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital, which is the main teaching hospital of the University of Pretoria, launched Stevie at the its Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This robot will be vital in allowing for a bedside ward round attended by ICU teams across the globe, through instant live discussion and…

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Ugandan health fintech wins $250K Swiss-Re Foundation Award

Frank

UGANDA – Health-focused fintech company, ClinicPesa, has won US$250,000 through the Swiss-Re Foundation competition – People’s Choice Award. The company purposes to use the award grant to finance the lending pool, until it can raise alternative capital with a debt fund. This will allow the company to ensure a smooth launch and enable it to accommodate the needs of the likely fast-growing pool of users. Another portion of the funds will go towards operations. Founded in 2017, ClinicPesa is a financial technology company that increases low- and middle-income Ugandans’ access…

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