malvernmugadzikwa
Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
FIVE years after President Mnangagwa spearheaded the establishment of innovation hubs in tertiary institutions to bridge the gap between the academia and industry, the impact of the initiative has manifested through young innovators generating groundbreaking solutions to some of the country’s most pressing challenges.
The innovation hubs were set up at institutions like the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Midlands State University (MSU), which are now producing innovators equipped with practical, problem-solving ideas.
A recent highlight of these successes was at the Cimas HIT Healthathon Competition, where 10 groups of young innovators from various institutions presented transformative ideas leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address pressing healthcare issues.
Despite modest prizes ranging from US$1 500 for first place to US$400 for fifth position, the innovations presented have the potential to save the healthcare sector millions of dollars.
The prize-winning ideas included Astro’s telemedicine platform to improve healthcare access in rural areas, Hypernova’s AI-driven diagnostic tool for early detection of infectious diseases, Eskani Systems’ mobile app for medication adherence and patient, management and Dev Bytes’ digital health solution for claims adjudication and fraud detection.
However, it was the “Epi App” — a mobile application designed for real-time monitoring of epilepsy patients — that stole the limelight.
Those living with epilepsy, a neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures, are often stigmatised in Zimbabwe.
The condition lacks timely diagnosis and management.
Munashe Ncube (22), who is studying Biomedical Engineering at UZ, and his colleague Lincoln Casette (26), an Electronics Engineering graduate from the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), demonstrated the app using a prototype of a patient-monitoring device. Their goal is to miniaturise the device into convenient, wearable form, similar to a wristwatch.
The app was inspired by interactions with hospital staff during their research, where they identified epilepsy as a neglected area with a critical need for innovative solutions.
“We looked into areas with a burden or crisis and how best to improve that. We discovered that there was something that we needed to do for people with epilepsy and that is why we designed the application,” said Casette.
There are about 20 types of epilepsy which cause seizures that are triggered by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
The seizures are classified into generalised and focal, with the latter affecting a specific area of the brain, while the former occurs on both sides of the brain.
Casette said there was minimal awareness on epilepsy in Zimbabwe despite estimates from the Ministry of Health and Child Care showing that it affects around 2 percent of the population.
The Epilepsy Support Foundation (ESF), however, estimates the impact to be closer to 10 percent of the population, citing social stigma and misconceptions as major barriers to proper treatment.
Ncube was moved by the daily struggles faced by epilepsy patients and their caregivers.
“Guardians of people with epilepsy endure a challenging experience,” he said.
“They need a solution that lets them live a normal life.”
His experience during an internship, witnessing patients struggling with the condition, sparked a desire to create something meaningful.
“If you don’t have a relative or someone you know who has epilepsy, you won’t give it much attention,” he added.
“Technology now provides hope for a solution. We are committed to developing this app to make life safer and easier for these patients and their families.”
For Casette, embracing technology in medicine is essential for improving patient care. “By adopting AI, we can ease the burden on our doctors and move towards a healthier future,” he said.
According to ESF research and advocacy manager, Mr Taurai Kadzviti, in addition to social stigma, many parents face financial obstacles in securing daily medication for their children, and some overprotect their offspring due to cultural beliefs about the cause of epilepsy, sometimes associating it with witchcraft.
He said these beliefs often lead families to seek out traditional or faith healers, delaying proper treatment and complicating later medical intervention.
“The biggest challenge with epilepsy are myths and belief system associated with the condition,” he said.
Cimas Health group chief information officer Mr Foster Akaketwa said the contest’s judges assessed each solution’s practicality, cost-effectiveness and the clarity with which presenters defined the problem.
“We focused on whether the solution effectively addressed a real business problem, with technology serving to support that goal. What we have seen is very promising,” said Mr Akaketwa.
Standing in for Information, Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera, Dr Beullah Chirume, the Permanent Secretary for the ministry, said: “I am inspired to witness the creativity, collaboration and hard work each of you has put into developing solutions that could reshape the future of healthcare.”
Online Reporter