Sudan On Recovery Path With Health-tech
One of the most important sectors in any community is the health sector. Why? anyone can be a victim of an unexpected health epidemic or accident. Without a functioning and capable health sector, the threat to the lives of citizens has the tendency to increase.
There are several countries in the world and especially in Africa that still struggle with their healthcare system. While no country’s struggle is underrated, Sudan has had its fair share of health struggles within Africa.
Although the battle for survival began years before, the 1991 famine introduced an unfavourable development to the sector. The health situation in Sudan was incredibly saddening that it attracted international attention.
The Sudan Kind Of Health.
Right before the world turned its attention towards Sudan’s direction, the nation faced significant challenges. While the nation faced civil war health facilities were well affected as they were attacked and occupied. The military or terrorists would take over some of these facilities to treat their wounded, which left indigenes with no source of healthcare.
When the 1991 famine would hit, the struggling sector almost shut down. Along with the famine came multiple types of ailments. Malaria, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, tuberculosis, mal-nutrition and many more. Asides from insecurity, the health sector was affected by an inadequate amount of professionals and medical centres, and an economic crash as the government could not fund the sector. Reports have it that the nation faced enough hardship while the government was too broke to afford the purchase of medications from the international market.
While the country continued to face such a magnitude of struggle in the health sector, famine and drought continued to deal with the people’s health. Cases doubled up more than they would have without the famine. Also on the rise was HIV/AIDS. Inadequate information about the virus killed a lot of the citizens. As the sector faced a lack of equipment, large or small, the use of 1 syringe for multiple people was common. An estimated amount of Sudanese between 1.5-7 million people died from the 1991 famine.
Then and Now
Modern-day Sudan still struggles with its healthcare system. As of 2019, a record high of 7.8 million people battled with vital problems such as Mental and physical health challenges. The record would include about 2.7 million internally displaced people and refugees. A tangible amount of people cannot afford daily meals, while a significant amount does not have access to clean water.
Lack of necessary medical equipment is still an issue within the system as peace and restoration are slow achievements for the nation itself.
Sudan’s Health-tech ecosystem
The are many reason technology has been significant in any society. One of which is its partial independence from the government. Sectors totally in the hands of any government have been observed to only scale partially. This is as the government itself has to oversee various sectors of society.
The independent interference of technology within Sudan’s community and healthcare system has brought a sought of relief.
Although Sudan’s health-tech ecosystem is quite small, yet, for a nation with almost zero activity within its health system, it is also significant.
There are 2 notable and recognised health-tech organizations within the nation. Although they are not super apps or scaled kinds of startups due to the technology development of the nation, at least they exist.
Alawasi
In other to have quality health services dispensed to citizens, it is important to have quality background training. This is the kind of service Alawasi focused on. The startup is established to train, upskill and reskill healthcare practitioners. The aftermath will be the provision of quality healthcare services within and outside Sudan.
Although the startup has not revealed any expansion plan or fundraising, it has been well-recognized. As a sign of good work, Orange Corners Innovation Fund and Now Sprint have recognized the startup with awards.
The startup which was founded in 2018 is predicted to boost the number of healthcare professionals within the court in the coming years. Through its contribution, it should improve Sudan’s healthcare status significantly.
Kashif organization for breast cancer
Kashif is a non-governmental organization that is maximizing the use of technology to offer a fast and early diagnosis of breast cancer in Sudan.
Also founded in 2018, the organization has combined health and technology together to provide an accurate medical reading.
The health tech developed a software program that can successfully detect cancer early enough for Sudanese women. To extensively reach concerned persons, the organization planted small centres within the community. This way patients have easy access to the centres and quick diagnosis, while researchers can develop other ways to help prevent breast cancer within the nation.
Although the nation is still developing in various sectors, there is hope that more health-tech startups will spring up. If they can, there will be better healthcare services provided to the people of Sudan.