With the number of start-ups emerging in Africa, we find hundreds of innovative products around us. While we have these amazing products to improve our lives in different facets, here are four that would impress you:
1. Vaccibox by Norah Magero
For many individuals living in developing nations, getting immunized during the pandemic’s height was a challenge. Poorly prepared public health facilities, a shortage of immunization delivery centers, and inadequate cold chain infrastructure were some causes of the low uptake.
Distribution of vaccines, the storage of drugs and blood, and cold chain infrastructure are all essential. The improper temperature can damage active substances in certain health goods, rendering them ineffective for users and certain items occasionally contain biological products that are temperature-sensitive. Vaccibox is an innovation that assists in the transportation of drugs, vaccines into hard to reach rural areas. It does this by using a portable solar fridge which is mounted on a bike and used for transportation to these areas.
2. Omeife by Uniccon Group
The fact that robots are commonplace in today’s society shows how deeply technology has permeated all aspects of human existence. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but what has become astounding is how much they resemble people. Robots that resemble humans in look and behavior are known as humanoids. They are already widely used in more developed countries but are still in their infancy in many African nations.
Chuks Ekwueme launched the two-year-old Nigerian technology business Uniccon Group, which recently developed Omeife, a humanoid that comprehends African culture and behavioral patterns. On the basis of being the first African by design and intent, it is the first humanoid. English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Pidgin, Wazobia, Afrikaans, and Igbo are among the languages Omeife currently speaks.
Omeife is not only multilingual but she speaks each language with a local accent, pitch, and vocabulary. She can also flip between languages and communicate with others by making particular hand gestures, smiles, and other facial and bodily expressions.
3. Crib A-Glow by Virtue Oboro
Diseases can affect humans as soon as they are born. Jaundice, a birth condition that typically manifests in the first few days or weeks of life, is a cause of concern for many newborns. It causes side effects like hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and brain damage that can be fatal. Notably, treatment is affordable and available, therefore it is not classified as a high-risk health condition in high-income countries. The same cannot be said for developing countries, where treatment may be difficult due to a lack of health infrastructure.
Virtue Oboro created Crib A’Glow, a foldable phototherapy crib that cures and monitors newborns with jaundice, as a result of her own mothering experience. It is intended for medical facilities with limited resources and no access to a reliable electrical supply. More so, this crib is able to function using either grid or solar power.
4. A-lite vein locator machine by Dr Mubiru
While many people dread receiving shots when they need medical attention, intravenous cannulation is crucial in medical care. Because small children’s veins are invisible, performing cannulations on them can be taxing for medical personnel. Cannulation attempts that are made repeatedly can result in trauma, delays, scarring, and nerve damage. Vein visualizers are now available thanks to advancements in medical science. In contrast to the western world, these gadgets are less common in sub-Saharan Africa because of things like their high cost, limited access to energy, and expensive maintenance costs.
The A-lite vein locator device, which makes it simpler for medical professionals to locate a child’s veins, was created by Julius Mabiru and his team to address this issue on the continent. Despite being made with kids in mind, it works for all patients regardless of their age. With the A-Lite Vein Locator, For Uganda’s 6,000 institutions, Dr. Mubiru hopes to make the A-Lite Vein Locator an impeccable piece of technology.
5. Smart Bra by Kemisola Bolarinwa
The most frequent form of cancer among women is breast cancer. Over 20 million women received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2020 alone, with the majority receiving a late diagnosis.
Kemisola Bolarinwa founded Nextwear Technology in Nigeria. This hardware embedding business creates technology that is worn close to the body by integrating programmable electronics and sensors on garments to address communication, security, and fashion-related problems.
One of her devices, the Smart Bra, will make it relatively easy for women to conduct their own breast cancer self-examinations. It was created using ultrasound technology and functions with a smartphone application that transforms the output into a language that the user can readily understand. After 20 to 30 minutes, the woman checks her status. The gadget then takes the readings and sends the result straight to the mobile app, where the user can access it.
