Africa Beyond Malaria: From Being a Survivor to Reinventing Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment
In 2021, I encountered an experience that forever altered the trajectory of my life. During an internship on the remote Bussi Island in Uganda, I came face-to-face with the harsh reality of malaria — a disease I had known. Still, I had never fully understood its devastating impact until I was in its cruel grip. On a day that started like any other, I woke up to symptoms that were all too familiar. I had contracted malaria before, so the telltale signs were not foreign to me. Little did I know, however, that this episode would push me to the precipice of my existence and ignite a profound mission within me.
With a body wracked with pain, I embarked on a journey to the nearby healthcare center. After enduring a grueling waiting period of three hours, I received the devastating news: the health center had run out of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test kits (RDTs), their primary tool for diagnosing malaria. The center lacked a functional laboratory and trained personnel to operate microscopes, making the RDTs an indispensable resource for the clinic officers to provide medical treatment to their patients. To add insult to injury, they had also exhausted their supply of antimalarial drugs.
Trapped on the island due to COVID-19 lockdown travel restrictions, my options rapidly evaporated. I resorted to the locally common remedy of taking paracetamol to mitigate my symptoms, a desperate bid that proved futile. As my condition deteriorated, a special travel permit was arranged, and I was whisked away on a boat to a private hospital on the mainland. However, the parasites had already wrought havoc on my liver by this time. My life hung by a thread.
During my recovery, I pondered the fate of those less fortunate than me who lacked the resources to access better healthcare facilities. Upon research, the grim statistics did nothing to assuage my concerns. I unraveled that in 2020, malaria was projected to have infected 241 million people and claimed over half a million lives, with a child under five succumbing to the disease every 75 seconds, according to UNICEF and the World Malaria Report 2021.
Malaria is an African burden, with 96% of its deaths happening in Africa. As per the World Health Organization Report on Malaria in 2021, this disproportionate impact is mainly due to the limited access to early malaria diagnosis and treatment and inadequate vector management. These challenges are compounded by the scarcity of medical facilities, particularly in rural communities, and a significant deficit of healthcare personnel in Africa. Additionally, poor data management of malaria cases undermines eradication efforts.
Armed with machine learning knowledge obtained as a robotics student at Fundi Bots Uganda and further nurtured with entrepreneurial skills at the African Leadership University, I set my sights on a formidable mission: to leverage system thinking principles, Artificial intelligence technology, and data analysis to eradicate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
My team and I conceptualized and developed the Mari Test, a reusable, non-invasive, automated diagnostic and prescription device to achieve this goal. This device is the culmination of an in-depth analysis of the existing status of the healthcare system in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mari Test operates without the need for reagents or additional tools. It is designed to be an autonomous, self-sustaining device powered by solar panels and capable of serving as a dedicated Malaria Testing and Treatment point. This device is linked to a remote control unit that monitors the drug levels and their shelf life in real-time, ensuring the timely restocking and replacement of drugs as needed.
Furthermore, Mari Test is integrated with online database storage that captures crucial data on malaria prevalence in a given community. This data can provide invaluable insights to support effective vector control measures and inform targeted public health interventions.
Mari Test seeks to bridge the prevailing gap of limited access to early diagnosis and treatment in these remote regions. It equips communities with a dependable tool for malaria diagnosis and empowers them with valuable data to aid in strategic disease control.
The most striking feature of Mari Test is its adaptability to the challenging conditions prevalent in many African communities. Understanding the limited infrastructure and resources, we designed Mari Test to be powered by solar panels, ensuring its functionality even in off-grid areas.
Additionally, the device is built to be robust and user-friendly, enabling community members to use it with minimal training provided by the user menu/guide. This ensures that the device can serve its purpose effectively, irrespective of the patient’s educational level and medical expertise availability in the community.
Moreover, Mari Test incorporates a revolutionary prescription system for treating malaria. Once a positive diagnosis is confirmed, the device dispenses the appropriate dosage of oral antimalarial drugs, closely monitored for quantity and shelf life by a remote control unit. This feature guarantees prompt treatment and eliminates the risk of drug misuse and malpractice, a common issue in areas with scant medical supervision.
The remote data management capability of Mari Test holds the potential to transform the fight against malaria. By automatically updating an online database with real-time information on malaria prevalence, the device offers a more reliable and efficient means of tracking and managing malaria cases. This data can be vital in guiding policy decisions, directing resources, and implementing targeted interventions to curb malaria spread. When thoughtfully applied, the Mari Test embodies my conviction that technology can serve as a potent weapon in our battle against persistent healthcare challenges like malaria. It is a testament to the potential of ingenuity, collaboration, and a deep-rooted commitment to improving health outcomes.
Through my journey with malaria, from being a patient to becoming an innovator, I have developed a profound understanding of the disease and its devastating effects. I have witnessed the power of technology and its potential to revolutionize healthcare, particularly in resource-limited settings. With solutions like Mari Test, we can turn the tide against malaria, progressively lifting the burden it places on our continent.
As we advance, my team and I remain committed to refining and expanding our efforts, inspired by the belief that no individual should be denied access to early diagnosis and effective treatment. Our journey with Mari Test has only just begun, and with every stride, we move closer to a malaria-free Africa.
