CURATED BT KRISTIN KOWNACKY
To reach the poverty-stricken and underserved areas of Africa, health care needs to be innovative and low cost. These four models, including tuberculosis-sniffing rats and pop-up clinics, may be the change Africa needs to bring healthcare to all.
FROM FAST COMPANY
In Tanzania, giant pouched rats are trained to sniff out tuberculosis in human sputum samples. Dubbed HeroRATS, the animals can evaluate 40 samples in just seven minutes, equal to what a skilled lab technician can do in a full day.
In northern Kenya, health services–including family planning services–are being brought to 36 remote, underserved communities by four-wheel drive vehicles, bicycles, camels and good old-fashioned human feet. And in Malawi, durable e-health hardware–even touch screen computers–that are significantly more robust in harsh environments with erratic power supplies are being manufactured by Malawians.
These are some of the really out-of-the-box ideas private sector organizations are applying in an effort to improve health by bringing affordable and high-quality health services to low-income people in Africa. While imported Western technologies certainly have their place, these ideas acknowledge local realities and tend to mix high and low tech in surprising ways that are appropriate to their environments…Continue Reading
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.
APOPO rats featured photo by Retlaw Snellac
