The Design for Health practice is excited to announce the launch of the Health Tech Connect Africa which aims to establish a strong foundation for sustainable health innovation in Africa with a specific focus on last-mile innovation. Who can join? All health innovation stakeholders; from enthusiasts, innovators, investors, Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, public health officials), Design thinkers, User experience (UX) designers  and developers, Government Agencies, Health tech entrepreneurs, Students and researchers interested in health innovation

Sub-Saharan Africa faces a profound healthcare crisis, particularly in its rural communities. A combination of limited infrastructure, financial constraints, a high disease burden, and the increasing impacts of climate change has created a perfect storm of challenges. The “last mile” problem, the difficulty of delivering healthcare to remote areas, exacerbates these issues. While digital health offers potential solutions, factors like; poor connectivity and low digital literacy hinder its widespread adoption.

To bridge this gap and improve healthcare access in rural areas, collaborative efforts are essential. This is where a Community of Practice (CoP) like the Health Tech Connect Africa (HTCA) becomes valuable. HTCA’s role in connecting professionals, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders involved in health tech innovation is crucial. The Health Tech Connect Africa can drive the creation and implementation of innovative health technologies that address the specific needs of rural communities.

The global rural population in 2022, as estimated by the World Bank, amounted to around 3,426,158,125 individuals, reflecting a decrease of 0.18% from the previous year. In 2022, the World Bank’s estimate placed the number of people living in rural areas in Africa at approximately 1.1 billion, accounting for roughly 32% of the continent’s total population. However, the annual increase in the global rural population has remained below 1%. Healthcare service delivery at the last mile, particularly in rural and remote areas, reveals significant challenges stemming from geographical, infrastructural, and socio-economic factors.

The Head of The Design for Health Practice, Stephanie Okpere, emphasised that for Africa to achieve equitable access to healthcare, we must collaborate, leverage the innovation potential in Africa and intentionally target the last-mile dwellers

The Health Tech Connect Africa will be launched on the 4th of October, 2024. Health Tech Connect Africa invites health tech innovators, practitioners, and key stakeholders across Africa to join this new community of practice. By becoming a member, individuals and organisations will have the opportunity to be part of a transformative movement that is shaping the future of healthcare in Africa.

To join Health Tech Connect Africa, kindly click on the link below: https://forms.gle/CVXnqCD4RgYizt816

CcHUB has a keen focus on public health as a strategy towards mitigating healthcare challenges in Africa This is achieved through its Design for Health Practice. Through design thinking, we work with key stakeholders and end users within the ecosystem to co-create solutions that leverage technology to address pressing challenges to improve health outcomes. Specifically, it drives the innovative use of technology to improve health outcomes and access in Africa.

The Design for Health team fosters health tech start-up innovation, builds capacity, co-creates solutions, and improves technology adoption using the human-centred design approach, Enhance stakeholder collaboration, investment, and knowledge sharing via our Communities of Practice,  Advance research and share best practices

For more information on how to join Health Tech Connect Africa, please visit Design for Health by CcHUB and be on the lookout in the coming weeks.