iDrain

webadmin — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 09:14:43 +0000

iDrain webadmin Wed, 09/23/2020 - 11:14

Developed by Medsols Uganda Ltd, iDrain is a low-cost chest drainage device primarily designed for use in pleural effusion patients. The device can also be used for other suction procedures.

Introduction

The vision of Medsols (U) Ltd is innovation for a healthier world. Through research and innovation, we solve emerging and existing healthcare challenges.

Access to standard medical devices is still a big healthcare challenge in the developing world countries. According to WHO, almost 80% of the medical devices from the first world countries do not actually work in the developing world settings owing to the high cost of both the devices and consumables, lack of expertise to operate them and other factors. Thus to improve access to standard healthcare in such areas, innovations must be tailored to meet the specific needs at a cost most affordable to that specific population.

iDrain was developed to meet this need. On average, 10 patients every week are diagnosed with pleural effusion at a major referral hospital in Uganda. The ideal water under seal chest drainage devices aren’t available at these hospitals.

Progress & Results

Ideated in 2016, the iDrain device has undergone several prototyping stages. With funding from UNFPA under the first edition of the UpAccelerate program, we were able to develop the first prototype with help of consultants from Uganda Industrial Research institute.

The team also conducted an end user needs finding study and results showed a great need by doctors for the product. The team also applied for intellectual property rights (utility model) with URSB.

Further funding from the CAMTech Accelerator program enabled a partnership with Kasp3r Technologies in Nairobi-Kenya where a clinical trial ready product was developed. The testing at laboratory level with Kasp3r gave promising results.

Challenges and Lessons Learnt

A challenge in controlling pressure efficiently emerged from the first prototype. The challenge has been solved. However, challenges in realizing a working prototype increased costs of production which will affect the final cost of the device.

Among the lessons learnt, it is important to engage a wide range of consultants in developing medical devices. This helps in reducing the failure rates and reducing the costs involved during prototyping.

File Upload

iDrain Innovation Factsheet.pdf

EcoSmart Uganda

webadmin — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 09:00:57 +0000

EcoSmart Uganda webadmin Wed, 09/23/2020 - 11:00

The EcoSmart pads are innovative products produced by EcoSmart Uganda, a social enterprise that envisions a new era for every African girl and hopes to increase access to affordable menstrual health supplies for every female.

Introduction

EcoSmart aims at: reducing school absenteeism for girls that miss school during their menstruation, reducing waste generated from disposable sanitary pads by utilizing natural materials and providing employment through local production of the EcoSmart pads.

Globally, there are 1.8 billion females in their reproductive age; unfortunately, millions of these females across the world are still denied the right to manage their menstrual period with dignity. In Uganda, a nationwide survey showed that only 35% of females aged 15 to 49 years were able to adequately meet their needs during Menstruation. According to the World Bank, about 20% of the households in Uganda are below the national poverty line. Daily expenses of these households may not cater for the purchase of sanitary pads so sanitary pads are a luxury especially for women from rural areas and vulnerable communities like refugee camps. As an alternative, these females resort to rudimentary options such as the use of old pieces of cloth, old foam mattresses, toilet paper, cloth rags and so on. This lack of appropriate materials is a high contributor to the level of school absenteeism for many adolescent girls according to the Adolescent Health Risk behaviors study conducted in 2017.

Therefore, for the wellbeing of women and girls especially those in underserved communities, there is a great need to access basic affordable materials to utilize during their menstruation. EcoSmart is producing eco-friendly affordable sanitary pads made using repurposed sugarcane residue to help women from low income backgrounds with hygienic high quality products that create equality in menstrual management.

Progress and Results

Research and development of the EcoSmart pads has been executed to achieve a cotton feel like material for use in the pads. The organization has set up a local manufacturing facility in western Uganda and has progressed from using the Uganda Industrial Research Institute facility in the processing of the sugarcane fiber. The product testing and certification of the sanitary napkins from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is underway. The product package of the sanitary pads has been assessed and approved by UNBS.

A total of 152 school girls were trained in 2019 in western Uganda on menstrual health and the girls were provided with underwear supplies to support them as they undergo menstruation.

Our team has conducted a study in 55 primary schools in western Uganda around the menstrual environment in primary schools in rural western Uganda, the study revealed the use of latrines to wash and change sanitary pads; almost of these latrines had a bad stench, dirty walls, no privacy and no locks. The team obtained expression of interest to conduct menstrual trainings and education.

Our team has hired four employees to support in local production and day to day operational activities of the organization.

Challenges and Lessons Learnt

The production process has been challenging for the team, we have locally fabricated the production equipment used because this machinery is not available locally. This has consumed a lot of time. Moving forward, we are moving in to certification of the products which seems to consume a lot of time but the team is working with consultants to ensure that this product is safe for all users and meets the needs of the users.

File Upload

Ecosmart fact sheet.pdf

Kao Japan

iDrain

Introduction

Progress & Results

Challenges and Lessons Learnt

EcoSmart Uganda

Introduction

Progress and Results

Challenges and Lessons Learnt