Tanzania - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Afya Lead is developing Mkanda Salama, a patented, innovative, non-invasive, affordable, and simple-to-use device designed to address excessive bleeding immediately after delivery ( postpartum hemorrhage), a leading cause of maternal mortality globally.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Afya Lead is developing Mkanda Salama, an innovative non-invasive device designed to address postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. This affordable and user-friendly belt applies gentle pressure to the uterus, effectively reducing bleeding after childbirth. Unlike invasive alternatives, Mkanda Salama is safe, easy to use, and does not require specialized training. Its cost-effectiveness and simplicity make it suitable for widespread adoption, particularly in resource-limited settings. With the potential to save lives and improve maternal health outcomes, Mkanda Salama offers a promising solution to a critical healthcare challenge. Mkanda Salama aims to serve millions of women across Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where PPH prevalence is high. Mkanda Salama is wrapped around the abdomen of the woman immediately after delivery. Reference: 1. https://youtu.be/riMQxFlh8h4?si=2KD5U4I1Sq4-VOC0 2. https://youtu.be/3lr2SDnyyJg?si=fVH_Evs5OFMISPmQ

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) stands as a significant threat to maternal health, particularly in regions like Tanzania where it accounts for 29% of maternal deaths. Globally, PPH affects around 14 million women annually, with a substantial impact felt in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 7 million women face its risks each year, often exacerbated by poverty-related challenges. This life-threatening condition occurs when excessive bleeding follows immediately after childbirth, posing severe risks without timely intervention. For women in poverty, who often lack access to skilled birth attendants and adequate healthcare facilities, the dangers are amplified. Home births or facilities with limited resources heighten the risk of complications, underlining the urgent need for accessible, effective solutions like Mkanda Salama. Existing solutions such as uterine balloon tamponade, with costs of up to $400, are prohibitively expensive. Moreover, they often entail invasive procedures,

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Mkanda Salama presents several significant advantages: Firstly, its affordability addresses a critical barrier to maternal healthcare. With alternatives like uterine balloon tamponade costing up to $400, Mkanda Salama's cost-effectiveness ensures accessibility, especially for women in resource-limited settings. This affordability directly impacts socio-economic factors, enabling more women, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, to access life-saving interventions during childbirth. Secondly, its non-invasiveness is a stark departure from traditional treatments, which often involve invasive procedures. This aspect reduces the risks of complications and discomfort associated with invasive methods. Women using Mkanda Salama experience fewer side effects, promoting better postpartum recovery and overall well-being. Moreover, Mkanda Salama's user-friendly design democratizes maternal healthcare. Its simple belt mechanism eliminates the need for specialized training personnel

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Mkanda Salama targets a diverse range of beneficiaries, primarily focusing on women at risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This includes expectant mothers giving birth in both formal healthcare facilities and informal settings, especially in resource-constrained areas. Additionally, healthcare providers, including midwives and traditional birth attendants, benefit from the device's user-friendly design, enabling them to administer timely interventions effectively. Furthermore, pharmacies, organizations dealing with maternal health, and ambulance owners stand to benefit from Mkanda Salama's accessibility and effectiveness in addressing PPH. In contexts such as refugee camps, where access to comprehensive healthcare services may be limited, Mkanda Salama offers a vital solution to mitigate maternal health risks and improve outcomes.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-02-16

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Franc Mussa Israel: A public health specialist with a background in innovation and entrepreneurship, focused on leveraging health tech to improve the quality of healthcare in Africa. 2. Pilly Ndobeji: A medical doctor and financial lead who excels in financial strategy and management. Pilly's expertise ensures the financial stability and strategic growth of the startup. 3. Paschal Kija: Passionate about maternal health, Paschal is skilled in developing and implementing operational strategies in healthcare settings. 4. Carolyn Mwasha: An administrative lead with a background in journalism and partnership strategy, holding a DDS bachelor's degree. Carolyn is dedicated to building strong partnerships and ensuring effective communication within the organization. 5. James Kalema: A dedicated researcher and legal lead, James ensures that the startup's innovations comply with legal and regulatory standards. His expertise in research and legal matters supports the development.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.afyalead.co.tz

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama significantly contributes to the SDG of No Poverty by addressing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a major cause of maternal mortality with profound socio-economic impacts. Mkanda Salama is an affordable, non-invasive solution that reduces healthcare costs compared to expensive treatments like uterine balloon tamponade, making maternal care more accessible to low-income populations. By effectively managing PPH, it improves maternal health outcomes, ensuring that mothers remain healthy and capable of contributing to their families' economic stability. This reduces the financial burden on families, preventing them from falling deeper into poverty due to healthcare expenses or loss of income. Mkanda Salama enhances the capacity of health facilities in resource-limited settings, improving the overall quality of maternal healthcare services. This empowerment of women through reliable maternal healthcare enables them to participate more fully in the workforce.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama contributes to the SDG of Good Health and Well-Being by providing an innovative, non-invasive solution to manage postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality. Mkanda Salama is designed to be affordable, user-friendly, and effective, ensuring that it can be widely adopted in resource-limited settings where traditional treatments are often inaccessible. By significantly reducing the incidence of PPH-related complications and deaths, Mkanda Salama enhances maternal health outcomes, ensuring that more women survive and recover well after childbirth. This directly improves the overall health and well-being of mothers, allowing them to care for their families and contribute to their communities. Furthermore, the device's simplicity and cost-effectiveness enable health facilities, even in remote areas, to provide better emergency obstetric care. This strengthens healthcare systems and increases the accessibility and quality of maternal health.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama contributes to the SDG of Gender Equality by addressing a major health issue that disproportionately affects women—postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). By providing an affordable, non-invasive, and easy-to-use solution for managing PPH, Mkanda Salama ensures that more women survive childbirth and recover fully, thereby enhancing their overall health and well-being. This not only saves lives but also empowers women by reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, allowing them to continue contributing to their families and communities. Furthermore, by improving maternal health outcomes, Mkanda Salama helps to alleviate the social and economic burdens that often fall on women and their families due to pregnancy-related complications. The device also promotes gender equality by ensuring that women in resource-limited settings have access to the same level of care and life-saving interventions as those in more developed regions.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama contributes to the SDG of Decent Work and Economic Growth by creating employment opportunities and fostering economic empowerment, particularly for women. Through the production, distribution, and promotion of Mkanda Salama, Afya Lead stimulates local economies and supports job creation along the supply chain. Women, in particular, benefit from employment opportunities in manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare sectors, thereby promoting gender equality and women's economic empowerment. Additionally, by addressing maternal health challenges, Mkanda Salama enables more women to participate in the workforce, contributing to economic growth and productivity. Moreover, the affordability and accessibility of Mkanda Salama reduce the financial burden on healthcare systems, freeing up resources for investment in other areas of development. By promoting inclusive economic growth and creating dignified employment opportunities,

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama significantly contributes to the SDG of Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by introducing a groundbreaking, locally-produced medical device designed to combat postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This innovation exemplifies how technological advancements can address critical health challenges, fostering a culture of innovation in the healthcare sector. By creating a cost-effective, non-invasive solution for PPH, Mkanda Salama not only improves health outcomes but also stimulates local manufacturing and industry. The production and distribution of Mkanda Salama generate economic opportunities and jobs, thereby strengthening local economies and infrastructure. Additionally, the project encourages collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, and engineers, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to solving healthcare problems. This synergy not only enhances the device's efficacy but also sets a precedent for future innovations in the region.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Afya Lead's Mkanda Salama contributes significantly to the SDG of Partnership for the Goals by fostering collaborative efforts across various sectors to address postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The initiative brings together healthcare providers, government agencies, international organizations, and local communities to ensure the successful implementation and scaling of Mkanda Salama. By partnering with entities such as the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and Ifakara Health Institute, Afya Lead leverages diverse expertise and resources to enhance the device's effectiveness and reach. These partnerships facilitate the exchange of knowledge, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve maternal health outcomes. Additionally, collaborations with distribution experts and supply chain partners ensure that Mkanda Salama reaches even the most remote and underserved areas, addressing disparities in healthcare access.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

In my startup, I strongly agree that our product/service represents an entirely new type of solution. Mkanda Salama is a groundbreaking innovation, offering a non-invasive, affordable, and user-friendly device to address postpartum hemorrhage, a critical healthcare challenge. It incorporates novel technology to provide a solution that significantly improves upon existing methods, offering a more accessible and effective alternative. Additionally, Mkanda Salama fulfills a previously unmet need in maternal health by providing a solution tailored to resource-constrained settings, where traditional interventions may be inaccessible or ineffective.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors include existing solutions for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), such as uterine balloon tamponade devices. However, Mkanda Salama distinguishes itself through its unique combination of affordability, simplicity, and effectiveness. Unlike invasive alternatives, Mkanda Salama is non-invasive and user-friendly, reducing the risk of side effects and eliminating the need for specialized training. Additionally, its affordability makes it accessible to healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings, where costlier alternatives may be financially prohibitive. Furthermore, Mkanda Salama's innovative design addresses the specific needs of women in these settings, ensuring optimal outcomes and minimizing the burden of PPH-related complications.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

YES! We actively engage in promoting the role of female entrepreneurs through various initiatives. Our mentorship programs (AFYA LEAD VILLAGE) offer invaluable guidance and support from experienced entrepreneurs, fostering skill development and confidence-building among women. Additionally, our entrepreneurship internships provide hands-on experience, equipping aspiring female entrepreneurs with practical knowledge and industry insights. We facilitate idea development and research initiatives tailored to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation and creativity. Through these efforts, we aim to cultivate a thriving ecosystem where female entrepreneurs can flourish and contribute to economic growth and social empowerment.