Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S drive to harness digital innovation to improve healthcare delivery has received a major boost, with Cimas Health Group attracting a record 372 entries for this year’s Healthathon, whose grand finale will be held in Harare on Friday.
The annual innovation challenge, now in its third edition, has drawn innovators, start-ups, researchers, students and technology enthusiasts from across the country, with 10 finalists remaining in contention after undergoing a rigorous selection and mentorship process.
The finalists will present their innovations before a panel comprising Cimas Health Group leadership and external experts from the healthcare, technology, innovation and industry sectors.
The overall winner will receive US$3 500, while the second- and third-placed teams will pocket US$2 000 and US$1 500 respectively.
Speaking ahead of the grand finale, Cimas Health Group Chief Information Officer Mr Foster Akaketwa said the Healthathon has evolved into a national platform for digital health innovation, bringing together Zimbabwean innovators to develop practical solutions to challenges affecting the country’s healthcare system.
He said this year’s record number of entries reflected growing confidence in technology as a tool for improving healthcare delivery.
“This year’s Cimas Healthathon 3.0 has once again provided a national platform for innovators to develop technology-driven solutions to some of Zimbabwe’s most pressing healthcare challenges,” he said.
“We received an impressive 372 submissions, which is an increase from last year, and this demonstrates that there is both a strong appetite and considerable capability among Zimbabwean innovators to contribute to solving healthcare challenges.”
The submissions covered a wide range of areas, including diagnostics, preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, rural healthcare, rehabilitation, data protection and emergency response.
Mr Akaketwa said the initiative was part of Cimas Health Group’s broader commitment to supporting innovation that makes healthcare more accessible, affordable, efficient and responsive to the needs of communities.
He said the competition also sought solutions to challenges such as affordability constraints, fragmented health data systems, delays in service delivery, operational inefficiencies and rising healthcare costs.
The competition was narrowed from 372 submissions to a Top 20, then a Top 15, before the final 10 teams were selected following presentations and mentorship aimed at refining the innovations for possible implementation.
Cimas Health Group said promising ideas emerging from the competition could progress to validation, incubation, partnerships or pilot programmes beyond the event.
