Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Imagine a digital space hosting all medical laboratory services facilities, where everyone can make a medical-test request or access their patients' test results from their phones. D' Health Rides (DHR) seeks to offer a platform called MedicalLab-Access.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

D’ Health Rides Synergy Nig. Ltd., known as DHR, is a medical laboratory sample and reagents referral/logistics start-up. MedicalLab-Access is a digital platform (in development) and centralized idea planned to be first enrolled in Katsina State and Bauchi State as a full-fledged marketable solution to offer Nigeria's first commercial digital space for medical laboratory facilities and access to tests and results. DHR's core services will also include the following: • eMedSample - This includes the movement of medical laboratory samples/reports from remote areas to referral facilities/laboratories. The service has been tested before in the Funtua metropolis, Katsina State, as a prototype. • SharedBlood - This includes mobilization of blood donation, screening, and transportation of blood and blood products for transportation using a blood management system. • MedLabStock (MLS) – Movement of medical laboratory consumables from supplier to client.

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

Sanlam Primary Health Centre is a remote health centre in the heart of Sheme, Katsina State. The health centre has a section for medical laboratory diagnosis. However, the section is not functional due to equipment breakage, lack of repair, unsustainable consumable supplies, and a lack of laboratory personnel. Hence, Ibrahim who lives in a remote area like Sheme, must travel to another facility to access medical laboratory services. Medical laboratory diagnoses account for 70% of healthcare services, according to the World Health Organization. And good health and well-being are significant for a sustainable world. However, due to restrictions and inaccessible quality healthcare facilities and services in remote areas, accessing medical laboratory diagnostic services is challenging in some remote areas. In the Northern region of Nigeria, 90% of the available medical laboratory facilities are not accredited or don’t offer essential medical testing.

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

The general benefit of the idea is to provide access to quality and reliable medical laboratory services, especially for remote populations who would have to travel to urban facilities to access specific medical laboratory services. To promote working and effective primary healthcare facilities and promote healthy competition among medical laboratory service providers, thereby improving quality service and healthcare. To place Nigerian medical laboratory services on the global market of quality healthcare providers in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) "Essential Diagnostics List," the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CSLI), the National Integrated Sample Referral Network (NiSRN) established by the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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

The target sector is healthcare. The primary beneficiaries are patients of remote origin and last-mile health facilities (HF). DHR will serve two distinct groups of beneficiaries. The first group is the main group of clients referred to here as our service consumers: private and public/primary health facilities (PHCs) in remote areas. This will be the group that is targeted primarily. The targets in remote areas will be prioritized because they are constantly in need of quality medical laboratory services for their clients (patients). This regularity of needed medical laboratory services is the reason that remote or last-mile health facilities are targeted. Another sub-group of clients is doctors, laboratory personnel, research institutions, companies, or personal clients. This could come from a wide variety of businesses that offer medical laboratory services.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-12-12

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

Shamsuddeen currently works as a lecturer of medical laboratory science at Kaduna State University. He previously worked as a medical laboratory scientist and as a consultant sample transport supervisor for Akesis Health Nigeria for the National Integrated Sample Referral Network (NiSRN). Shamsuddeen holds an MSc in molecular biology. He is also completing an MSc in Leadership Practice—Healthcare at Lancaster University, UK (distance learning). Shamsuddeen led the first pilot of the solution in Katsina State and won various awards. Abdulmalik Hassan Dikko is working as a medical laboratory scientist in Bauchi State with about 7 years of working experience. He heads the department of medical laboratory science at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State. He equally manages a pharmacy (over the counter) in Bauchi, Bauchi State. Abdulmalik currently leads the plan for the Bauchi State pilot.

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

https://denovohealthrides.mystrikingly.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/d-health-rides/, https://www.facebook.com/DENOVOHEALTHRIDES/, https://www.instagram.com, https://x.com/D_H_Rides/denovo_health_rides/,

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

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

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

DHR is focused on promoting the sustainability of SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being). The success of our initiative will be measured by its impact on two key SDG-3 indicators: 3.8.1, which pertains to the enhancement of essential health service coverage, and 3.d.1, which involves strengthening early warning, risk reduction, and management of health risks in developing countries.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

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

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

The project also aims to mobilize human resources with an emphasis on the affected community members, such as community health care workers, primary health care workers, remote nurses, and medical laboratory technicians. This approach equally promotes the inclusivity of the target communities and provides decent work to it members leading to contribution to country economic growth.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

The strategic and innovative approach of the project also contributes to the sustainability of SDG-9, specifically target 9.5, which aims to improve technological capabilities in industries and foster global partnerships.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

MedicalLab-Access poised to reduce unequal access to quality healthcare between urban and remote areas.

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

We seek to use solar-powered refrigerators for cold chain service.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

The project will also partner with other social enterprises to promote the well-being of the population, such as humanitarian organizations.

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

3

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

6

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

5

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

6

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

5

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

6

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

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

Medical logistics or transportation is not a new service in healthcare. Our solutions/project aims to maximize and redefine the medical testing by exploring on the potentials of medical logistics. In addition, proposed new technologies like AI (data capturing and encryptions) for patients data safety. MedicalLab-Access multidimensional sub-solutions offer distinct advantages, providing a more comprehensive and versatile service compared to existing alternatives. Our commitment to bridging gaps in access, trust, and technology sets us on a path to transform healthcare delivery in underserved regions.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

What would sets us apart from competitors like LifeBank and RidersForHealth is our unique ability to transport a wide range of medical samples, both routine and infectious in nature. Moreover, our commitment extends to providing a comprehensive digital medical records solution that promotes telemedicine. This holistic approach positions us as a trailblazer, primed to efficiently serve the healthcare needs of remote populations, covering a broad spectrum of medical requirements. In summary, our innovative approach aims to revolutionize healthcare accessibility by overcoming the inherent challenges associated with remote medical laboratory services

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

Yes. I am part of the Hack-the-COVID network and the Decent Work project led by the Nigerian Youth SDG Network and the International Labour Organization (ILO), which promotes female entrepreneurs.