Dr Celestino Dhege (left) speaks to Team SilicaGuard, whilst Cimas Health Group CEO, Vuli Ndlovu (second from right) and Chief Information Officer, Foster Akaketwa look on
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
“Impressive, this is serious business.”
These were the words of Dr Celestino Dhege, the Chief Director for Public Health in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, who was representing Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora at the recently held Cimas Health Group Healthathon 3.0.
He (Dr Dhege) said this after witnessing the presentation of the winning team SilicaGuard, which had demonstrated their silicosis risk screening platform.
This innovation is targeting artisanal miners, who are more at risk of contracting silicosis, which is a serious lung disease caused by breathing fine silica dust, usually over a long period of time.
The Healthathon 3.0 which ran under the theme: “Reimagining Healthcare Through Disruptive Innovation”, brought together Zimbabwean innovators to develop practical solutions to some of the country’s pressing healthcare challenges.
After missing the initial presentations due to prior commitments, Dr Dhege had the chance to see SilicaGuard showcase their innovation again, which left him in awe.
“Impressive, this is serious business.
“I have worked in industry, I have worked for ZIMASCO, I have worked for ZISCO Steel, I have also worked in Mashonaland West, Chegutu, Kadoma and Mhondoro Ngezi (where there’s) so much artisanal mining and lots of silica dust and silicosis.
“So yeah, I was just talking to the Group CEO (Vuli Ndlovu) to say we probably need them (SilicaGuard) to present at the ministry (Ministry of Health).
“A lot of our young miners are succumbing to this and this would really help us and going to the village health worker level, yeah, that’s access.
“Thank you so much, really brilliant stuff and I wish you the best,” said Dr Dhege.
Now in its third edition, Healthathon 3.0 attracted 372 submissions from innovators, start-ups, researchers, students and emerging technology enthusiasts from across Zimbabwe.
Following the initial assessment of the 372 submissions, the competition went through successive stages of screening, presentations, mentorship and solution refinement.
The field was narrowed to the top 20, then the top 15, before the final 10 teams were selected to compete at last Friday’s grand finale.
SilicaGuard made up of university graduates, won a whopping US$3 500 and was comprised of Takudzwa Mukaro, Panashe Chandiwana and Gabriel Musemani.
Speaking after their triumph, SilicaGuard Team Lead Chandiwana, said they were very excited with the win, calling it a prestigious award.
“Our solution was called SilicaGuard, we are trying to solve silicosis which in simple terms is a lung disease just like TB.
“But specifically we are targeting artisanal miners which is a precious group for our nation that are contributing much especially in the gold industry.
“So we are trying to bring the solution at the comfort of their site in a cheapest way through a mobile application and also USSD.
“We are saying if we can do banking through kambudzi (feature phone) why can’t we also do the same in the health sector.
“And also why can’t we solve the problem before it escalates, so we are bringing this screening to the mine through the village health worker,” said Chandiwana.
He added that the health worker will go to the mine with a mobile phone and screens miners, connects to the hospital and the person will be referred to seek treatment if need be.
SilicaGuard
“We refer that person to the hospital to seek special treatment that he or she needs before the damage occurs.
“Why; because silicosis is incurable, in most cases it is silent for more than a decade, the time you realise that you have it, you will be at risk and life will be lost,” added Chandiwana.
In second place was Runtime Terrors who presented on the “AI dermatology screening platform” and they won U$2 000, while Blood Geo Alert which presented on “Emergency blood donor mobilisation” came third and they won US$1 500.
Cimas Health Group’s Chief Information Officer, Foster Akaketwa said the significance of the Healthathon went beyond the prize money, with the initiative seeking to create a pathway for promising ideas to move into further validation, incubation, partnerships or potential pilot programmes.
“Our Healthathon is about identifying innovations that have the potential to create real healthcare impact. So, beyond the monetary prizes, participants stand to gain something even more valuable, the opportunity to have their innovations considered for piloting with Cimas Health Group and to contribute to shaping the future of healthcare in Zimbabwe,” he said
Full list of winners
Position 1 – SilicaGuard
Position 2 – Runtime Terrors
Position 3 – Blood Geo Alert
Position 4 – The Interns
Position 5 – Mambokadzi
Position 6 – Girls who Code
Position 7 – Lango
Position 8 – Chengetai Health
Position 9 – Grip Co
Position 10 – Team Viva
