A UK government-funded initiative called the Barclays Black Venture program has chosen Nigerian Health technology firm, Mobihealth International, to be part of their program.
Each year the initiative chooses 20 of the topmost UK scale-ups with the most potential in tech and creativity industries. The aim of the program is to avail chosen start-ups the necessary support needed to help expand their business.
Foundervine is the presenter of this current initiative and is of the view that “Mobihealth is focused on addressing the multiple challenges in the African health sector through its integrated telehealth solution that provides users in Nigeria, access to affordable, quality healthcare from the convenience of their mobile phones, computers, and walk-in teleclinics specifically designed to tackle critical manpower shortages on the continent.”
On the part of Mobihealth, Dr Funmi Adewara, the Chief Executive Officer noted that “Access to healthcare in rural areas can be quite challenging. The people in rural areas suffer inequitable access to healthcare; they are usually older demographics, with multiple comorbidities and reduced mobility. Health facilities are distant with a need to travel many miles where transportation is also a big challenge and costly.”
The CEO explained that their firm had established telehealth clinics in solar and internet-enabled rural areas. She also mentioned that they are in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to install some of these clinics in localities across the country.