The HealthTech Challenge was a competition to identify three of the most promising start-ups in Africa tackling population health challenges focused on cardiovascular health, breast cancer or virtual health and care.
Klarah was fortunate to be one of the top three winners and came away with a tone of support but also a $20,000 cash price.
The award ceremony coincided with the launching of the Norrsken East Africa’s Health Tech Hub Africa based in Kigali, Rwanda.
Rwanda’s ministers of ITC and of Health, Paula Ingabire and Daniel Ngamije both expressed their support and committment to the start ups but also to making the country a true digital player on the continent.
Since 2000, life expectancy in Africa has increased by more than ten years, according to Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation, but chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease are becoming more common. “We hope the technologies developed at the HealthTech Hub Africa will make a real difference to accelerate detection and access to quality care for chronic diseases. The Novartis Foundation has had a long commitment to improving access to healthcare through breakthrough technologies,” she said.
About Klarah
Klarah is an African tech company that enables individuals and companies to provide quality home healthcare to their loved ones by leveraging technology to match patients to nurses based on patient need, carer experience and their proximity to each other.
About Health Tech Hub Africa
The HealthTech Hub Africa is a new HealthTech accelerator based in Kigali, Rwanda. The hub, located at the Norrsken East Africa House in Kigali, Rwanda and powered by the Novartis Foundation, will host up to 30 startups who will have access to a program that includes capability-building opportunities, partner match-making with the public and private sectors, and mentorship and opportunities to test and validate their solutions in the public health system.
About Novartis Foundation
The Novartis Foundation aims to improve the health of low-income populations by working with local authorities and partners to re-engineer health systems from being reactive to proactive, predictive and preventative.
