Global brand announces $50,000 African innovation challenge at FAMSAGA 2018 healthcare conference

In line with the theme “Repositioning Healthcare in Africa for Sustainable Development”, global brand Johnson & Johnson announced the Africa Innovation challenge second edition at the 32nd assembly of the Federation of African Medical Students’ Associations General Assembly (FAMSA GA).

The week-long conference which also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the federation held from the 18th-24th November at the prestigious University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Building on the Millennium Development goals, the United Nations and other development partners in 2015 adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

With SDG 3 specific to health the FAMSA General Assembly was a proposed solution that brought together young vibrant minds as well as professionals and relevant stakeholders in both public and private sectors from across Africa to discuss ideas and initiate steps towards the goal.

As efforts are made towards a path of development, Africa’s ability to create sustainable and efficient health systems is fundamentally dependent on its capacity to embrace innovative strategies, implement them and scale-up these solutions to the evolving health challenges of today and the future.

The just concluded FAMSA General Assembly aimed to inspire a generation of healthcare students and participants to take charge and play active roles in structuring the future of healthcare in Africa for sustainable development. In a statement given by Jesutofunmi Omiye, the conference organizing chairperson, he stated that “Healthcare is central to the overall development of a region, hence, we must reposition healthcare in Africa if we are to achieve sustainable development.”

He buttressed his point by saying, “Everyone should play a part in revolutionizing the African healthcare system; government, those in the public and private sectors as well as individuals. If everyone is involved, then progress can be ensured.”

To show their support, Ibrahim Badejo, Senior Director, New Ventures at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Boston announced the Africa Innovation challenge 2.0 for budding Healthcare Entrepreneurs by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. This challenge helps to ensure that more of Africa’s bright minds have an opportunity to contribute to the future success of the African continent.

“The overarching goal is to uncover entrepreneurs in Africa who have a creative solution to various pressing local healthcare needs”. Johnson & Johnson is calling on African Entrepreneurs to submit ideas in six categories: Mental Health, Consumer Packaging, Botanical Solutions, Health Worker Support, Digital Health Tools and Essential Surgery. Winners will be eligible for mentorship and up to 50,000dollars in financial support and resources to help bring their ideas to market.

Essentially, as FAMSA, Johnson & Johnson and several others pitch in by playing their roles in discovering and developing the next generation of healthcare innovators, it’s a wakeup call for many others to join the movement to chart a course forward in the African healthcare sector.

IFEOMA OKEKE