Innovation: the key to an economic revolution in Africa

An automated medicine dispensing system. A novel vaccine for a disease that disproportionately affects African infants. A low-cost device to prevent mothers dying during childbirth. This is what Africa-led innovation looks like. And it’s on the rise, at a fast pace, creating opportunities and homegrown solutions like never before. Innovations like these go beyond the development of new tools and devices to a new level of ingenuity in the way we approach systems, processes, and even policy.

The world is taking notice of Africa as an emerging competitor in global markets and as a contributor to global health, rich with entrepreneurial energy and innovative capability. In my experience as PATH’s South Africa country director, it is exciting to witness the creativity and talent brimming in Africa right now.

I’m seeing an increased drive for excellence in science, technology, and innovation on our continent, which leads to creating an environment of economic prosperity. We are also well-positioned to understand our own needs and work toward solutions that pave the way for development. As Africa works toward a poverty-free generation by 2030, there are a number of innovations with high potential to change the face of the public health system. Here are just a few:

A shining example from South Africa is the Technovera. Neo Hutiri, a local innovator, developed the “Technovera smart locker,” which is an automated medicine dispensing system aimed at reducing the burden of long waiting periods at local hospitals for chronic patients collecting their medication. The device allows users to collect medication prescriptions in a much shorter time frame of up to only a few minutes instead of the usual long hours in queues. This will mean more efficiency for government hospitals, more compliance to treatment by patients, and less cost for the government in the current model of care for chronic patients.

Such innovations clearly demonstrate the potential for investments in health innovations to reduce health system costs and boost economic productivity.

In another example of how innovation is driven by a very specific need, doctors in South Africa recognized the need for a better way to drain chest wounds from gunshots, stabs, and other trauma. They worked with Sinapi Biomedical to design a device to more effectively and safely drain fluid, which will not only improve health outcomes but also reduce costs. The chest drain helped Sinapi establish its business, creating more than 100 jobs. It is now being exported to other countries in Africa and beyond.

The South African Health Advocacy Coalition (SAHTAC), a coalition that advocates for increased investments in health research and development by the South African government, together with PATH recently highlighted the Sinapi chest drain and other stories of homegrown innovation in South Africa in a series of videos.

Several other health innovations from Kenya are being developed through a partnership between the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital where local innovators have come together to develop technologies that save the lives of mothers and newborn babies. Due to the immense financial pressure on the public health system in sourcing equipment and spare parts, the partnership that the humanitarian nonprofit Concern Worldwide aims to develop affordable technologies using local expertise and talent, suitable for use in low-resource settings. One such device is a suction machine used to clear an infant’s airway or to clear fluids from the mother during childbirth. The machine is close to clinical trial phase after having undergone successful calibration and it is hoped that once scaled, it will contribute significantly to improving maternal and child health outcomes in Kenya.

Innovation in Africa is certainly taking off, but there is still a great need for more support to ensure that entrepreneurs and local innovators continue to get the resources they need to be successful. We look to the government and the private sector to help fuel this entrepreneurial energy. The Innovation Effect Africa is a platform for this type of discussion that focuses on not only the need for homegrown innovation, but also on highlighting existing challenges and opportunities for bolstering the innovation ecosystem in Africa. The event will celebrate the successes of African innovators from countries like South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, and more, and it will bring together stakeholders from the public, private, and nongovernmental industries all over Africa as well as the world.

The African continent is truly experiencing exciting changes. Now is the time for all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and take action to continue the economic and social transformation needed to impact the public health system in years to come.