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EpiApp wins CIMAS Healthathon, Highlighting Zimbabwe’s Next Generation of Health Innovators

The number of young people who made presentations at the CIMAS Health Group Healthathon 2.0 is a testament to the brilliant minds that the country has.

 

The Healthathon, which was hosted Friday at CIMAS headquarters in conjunction with the Harare Institute of Technology attracted 9 groups of health innovators mostly from the graduates and students from Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions.

It was held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare: Pioneering Tomorrow’s Health Solutions.”

The competition which started in the morning showcased various innovative ideas aimed at harnessing the creativity and ingenuity of local innovators in addressing the unique challenges faced by the local healthcare system.

The Healthathon was fierce as all the groups presented their projects to a panel of industry experts and thought leaders and try to scoop the prizes that were on offer by CIMAS, the country’s leading private medical aid society and healthcare service provider.

The EpiApp, a mobile device designed to revolutionise epilepsy care, was awarded the grand prize of US$1,500 and an opportunity to see its idea developed and implemented in the health sector.

Apart from the brilliant presentation and practicality of the idea, the developers of the EpiApp presented a working prototype before judges, something which may have earned them more marks than their competitors.

It aims to provide real-time monitoring for epilepsy patients and deal with the unpredictable seizures that can disrupt daily activities, leading to fear and anxiety.

The application was developed by Munashe Dube, a Bioengineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, and Lincoln Casette, an Electronics Engineering graduate from the Harare Institute of Technology.

Speaking during the break of the Healthathon, CIMAS Health Group Chief Information Officer Foster Akaketwa, gave an indication of what the judges were looking out for during their adjudication.

“We look at whether it is feasible to implement, how practical it is in our market, in our environment because a solution can be relevant in other markets but when it comes to Zimbabwe it struggles,” said Mr Akaketwa.

Part of the judges’ panel listening to the Healthathon presentations

“We also look at how scalable the solution is, because when you look at the solutions that are made possible by the adoption of AI (artificial intelligence) they must be scalable to accommodate every Zimbabwean whether they are low or high-income earners.”

Cash prizes were awarded from first to fifth position, although every participating group received a certificate of participation.

Astro secured the second position with their innovative telemedicine platform aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility in rural regions, earning a prize of US$1,000.

Taking third place was Hypernova, recognized for their AI-powered diagnostic tool that facilitates the early detection of infectious diseases, which earned them US$750.

In fourth place, Eskani Systems created a mobile application focused on medication adherence and patient management, winning a reward of US$500.

Dev Bytes claimed fifth place, receiving US$400 for their digital health solution designed to streamline claims adjudication and identify fraud.

In a speech delivered by Dr. Beullah Chirume, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services, the Minister of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services, Hon. Dr Tatenda Mavetera, stated that the government is committed to promoting an environment that supports innovation.

“Technology is not just a tool; it is the lifeblood of our development strategies, especially in sectors like healthcare. From telemedicine to data-driven diagnostics, technology is rapidly transforming how we deliver and access health services,” said Hon. Dr. Mavetera.

“Our Ministry’s mission aligns closely with the core objectives of this Healthathon competition. As government we are committed to promoting an environment that supports innovation, nurtures talent, and encourages the use of ICT in all sectors, particularly in critical areas like healthcare.”

Hon. Dr. Tatenda Mavetera hailed the competition saying events like the healthathon were essential for Zimbabwe as they foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, academia, and young innovators who are the future of Zimbabwe.

Featured image:

From left: Dr. Lodrina Masiyazi, Director of Technology Transfer, Licensing, and Commercialization at HIT, Mrs. Thando Kembo, Cimas Group Operating Officer, Munashe Dube, a Bioengineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, Lincoln Casette, an Electronics Engineering graduate from the Harare Institute of Technology and Dr. Beullah Chirume, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services

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