MedTec Africa

This is the podcast version of Dr. Oti's article titled " Towards authentic institutional allyship by global health funders" published in PLOS Global Public Health on March 18, 2022. Link to the full article is here: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003024 Please note that this podcast version was generated using Google's NotebookLM. It does contain some minor inaccuracies and mispronunciations. This podcast is not part of the now ended MedxTek Africa series.

Today marks a special milestone as we release the final episode of MedxTek Africa! After 4 incredible seasons, 55 episodes, and being streamed in 96 countries worldwide, we’re closing this chapter with full hearts and immense gratitude. To all the amazing guests who shared their wisdom and stories, thank you for enriching each episode with your unique insights. You made this journey more impactful than we could have ever imagined. And to our listeners, your continued support from all corners of the globe has been the true driving force behind this project. Your feedback, engagement, and enthusiasm have been inspiring, and we couldn’t have done this without you. Here's to the conversations that have sparked growth, connection, and inspiration. While MedxTek Africa is coming to an end, the lessons and community we’ve built will live on. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Stay tuned for what’s next! Now, enjoy this amazing episode with Niek Versteegde, Founder/CEO of GOAL 3 and one of the brains behind the IMPALA system. This system is a smart data-driven technology that helps clinical health workers to analyze patient data more effectively, detect trends in vital signs, and identify patients at high risk. This enables them to provide better care and manage patients more efficiently, without increasing their workload. For more info visit: https://www.goal3.org/ MedxTek Africa was produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast series has been distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

In this episode, we chat with Sahar Jamal, CEO and founder of Maziwa. Her company developed the Wema Breast Pump --a portable, battery-operated, and wireless device that enables women to express breastmilk discreetly at work or in a public space. The pump is more affordable than other options, targeting low-income women who often lack access to breast pumps or lactation support. For more information visit: https://maziwabreastfeeding.com/ MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

The 2nd edition of the Transforming African MedTech Conference took place from 28 – 30 August 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. At the sidelines of the conference, I spoke with several delegates who shared their highlights. They include: Winnie Kibiru, MedTech Lead, Villgro Africa. She is one of the brains behind the conference and she talked about the event’s vision and goals. Vivian Arinaitwe, CEO and co-founder, Che Innovations. Her innovation, the Neonest, was one of several amazing medtech devices on exhibition. Hellen Gitonga, Regulatory Affairs Specialist for Africa at Philips Health Systems. She spoke about her experiences as a judge during the pitch competition for startups. Sewu-Steve Tawia, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Jaza Rift Ventures. They are one of the conference’s conveners and are a major investor in Africa’s medtech sector. Eddine Sarroukh, Innovation Lead at Phillips Foundation. He moderated a powerful panel discussion on addressing barriers to medtech innovation in Africa. Prof Ndirangu Kioni, former Vice Chancellor, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. He spoke about academia’s catalytic role in medtech innovation. Kimani Chege, a freelance journalist who gave the media’s perspective of the event. Rob Beyer, Co-founder and Executive Chair, Villgro Africa. He wrapped up the episode by addressing the ‘so what’ and ‘what next’ of the conference. For more information about the Transforming African Medtech Conference, visit: https://www.africanmedtech.com/ MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

Today is a special two-part episode. We’ll be talking about two exciting funding and training opportunities for health innovators in Africa. In part 1, we'll hear from Dr Natnael Shimelash, Head of the East Africa Biodesign Program. This program is a 10 month long fellowship program during which fellows are expected to utilize the biodesign process to develop medtech innovations that solve real world problems. In part 2, we'll hear from Dr. Sylvia Muyingo who is leading the Mental Health Data Prize Africa. This prize is open to innovators, researchers and startups that are interested in generating scalable innovations and data-driven insights aimed at tackling the growing burden of mental health across Africa. Now the deadlines for applying to both opportunities are coming up soon, so if any of this sounds interesting to you, please dive right into the episode and learn more. You can also find out more about both opportunities by visiting the links below. East Africa Biodesign Program: https://ughe.org/east-africa-biodesign-program Mental Health Data Prize Africa: https://www.mentalhealthdataprizeafrica.aphrc.org/applications/ MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

In this episode, we chat with Dr Hammed Ninalowo and Dr Chinedum Anosike. Originally from Nigeria, Hammed and Chinedum left their home country many years ago to pursue subspecialty radiology training in the US and UK respectively. But they never forgot the motherland and they wanted to make a difference in lives of millions of Africans who don’t have access to subspecialty radiology services. So, they founded Accuread, a teleradiology company headquartered in Lagos and now spreading its wings across the African continent. This episode is all about their amazing story. MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

🎉 **We're celebrating our 50th episode!** 🎉 In this milestone episode, we sit down with Dr. Ellen Karuga Kamau, the Director of Tech at Women in AI Kenya, and a trailblazer in the tech industry. Tune in as we explore her remarkable journey and the crucial role women play in advancing digital health. We also highlight her latest innovation, Evacare, an AI-powered tool designed to support expectant women through pregnancy and early parenthood. MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in modern healthcare diagnostics, but most Africans can't afford or access it. In this episode, I chat with Dr Johnes Obungoloch, a biomedical engineer and senior lecturer at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. We discuss how he and his team are developing what they call a low-field MRI system. Their dream is to democratize access to MRI across Africa. MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

Ensuring the availability of safe and accessible water is crucial for public health, whether it's for drinking, household use, agricultural purposes, or recreational activities. Despite this, a staggering 2.1 billion people globally lack access to clean and safe drinking water, leading to approximately 2.2 million deaths from waterborne diseases annually, with the majority occurring in Africa. In this episode, I chat with John Renouard, the founder and executive director of WHOLives. Together, we delve into an engineering breakthrough pioneered by John and his team, aimed at enhancing access to clean water for marginalized communities. Their invention, dubbed the Village Drill, is a hand-powered device designed to drill boreholes and establish water wells at a fraction of the conventional cost. The Village Drill is transforming community health for millions of underserved people across Africa. MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠⁠, and co-edited by ⁠⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.

This episode features the co-founders of the Digital Health Interoperability Network (DHIN): Emeka Chukwu, Juliet Odogwu and Iniobong Ekong. With over 90 members, DHIN is a network of experts committed to digital health standardization efforts in low- and middle-income countries. We discuss their mission of creating an ecosystem where standardized digital solutions can seamlessly interoperate, enabling health stakeholders to access and utilize critical information efficiently. For more information, please visit: https://www.dhin-hie.org/ MedxTek Africa is produced and hosted by ⁠Dr. Sam Oti⁠, and co-edited by ⁠Veronica Ojiambo⁠. If you have any thoughts on this episode, or recommendations of African health innovators that you’d like us to host on the show, please reach out directly by email: [email protected] or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Please note that the MedxTek Africa Podcast is distinct from Dr. Oti's role as a Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre. The information provided in this podcast is not medical advice, nor should it be construed or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The MedxTek Africa Podcast, its production team, guests and partners assume no liability for the application of the podcast's content.