Imbuto Initiative

MATERNAL HEALTH CHALLENGE; Rwanda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Misoprostol.

Learn more about the Maternal Health Challenge and how the distribution of Misoprostol, a $3 drug that can prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage, could save thousands of lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Imbuto Initiative prevents postpartum hemorrhage in underserved communities by enabling Community Health Workers to provide misoprostol for unavoidable home births while strengthening rapid emergency response, emergency referrals, and maternal savings.

IMBUTO Initiative will pilot its maternal health distribution model in Huye and Nyagatare districts in Rwanda, enrolling 250 high-risk pregnant women through trained Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs will provide maternal follow-up, rapid labor response, emergency referral coordination, maternal savings support, and restricted post-delivery administration of misoprostol for unavoidable home births to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. The model also uses a USSD-based alert system that allows mothers or family members to rapidly notify CHWs during labor or emergencies. What sets IMBUTO apart is its integrated community-based approach that combines postpartum hemorrhage prevention, emergency transport support, digital alerts, and maternal financial preparedness into one coordinated system for high-risk mothers.

IMBUTO Initiative was founded by Dr. Egide Ahishakiye, who serves as Executive Director and Pilot Lead. During early implementation, he will work closely with an implementation team including Dr. Aimable Munyeshyaka, Health Technology & Data Lead, who manages the USSD system development, data integrity, and district logistics support; and Dr. Marie Grace Niyonizeye, Community Engagement & Maternal Savings Circle (MSC) Coordinator, who leads community engagement, maternal health education, and management of Maternal Savings Circles and Emergency Birth Funds.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly enroll and support 250 high-risk pregnant women across Huye and Nyagatare through Community Health Workers (CHWs), Maternal Savings Circles, emergency transport support, and rapid labor response systems during the six-month pilot.

• Ensure that at least 90% of eligible unavoidable home births among enrolled mothers receive timely CHW-administered misoprostol for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, while increasing timely referrals and facility-based deliveries through CHW-led maternal support systems.

• Secure at least $12,000 USD in additional funding or institutional partnership commitments within five months of launch to support continuation and scale of the IMBUTO maternal health model beyond the pilot phase.
  

FOUNDING TEAM

Ahishakiye Egide - Founder

OxySure

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and how proper maintenance of oxygen concentrators expands access to medical oxygen to save lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OxySure's mission is to ensure reliable, life-saving oxygen access for vulnerable communities in Uganda by embedding a scalable, technician-led preventive maintenance model that keeps oxygen concentrators consistently functional in under-resourced hospitals.

OxySure's model is based on a typical biomedical maintenance approach, but has been reconfigured to create embedded 'oxygen reliability entrepreneurs' at the district level. The program deploys trained biomedical technicians near partner hospitals in Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda, nudging them to focus on preventive maintenance of oxygen concentrators rather than reactive, one-off repairs. They support these technicians with a regional workshop hub in Mbale, real-time KoboToolbox monitoring, and a rapid-response guarantee of under six hours, ensuring concentrators remain functional at above 90%. What sets OxySure apart is that they do not just fix equipment; they build a self-sustaining, district-level maintenance backbone that transforms fragile oxygen delivery into a resilient, life-saving system for the most vulnerable communities

OxySure is co-founded by Dr. Achong Emmanuel, a medical doctor and certified project manager with hands-on experience leading emergency oxygen operations and health systems programs across Uganda, and Nassolo Jessica, a field coordinator with experience managing health systems strengthening across 10 facilities. Together, they combine clinical leadership, technical expertise, and operational coordination, uniquely positioning OxySure to deliver a scalable, preventive maintenance model for oxygen concentrators in underserved communities.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 1,710 people (450 direct beneficiaries, 1410 in-direct beneficiaries)

• During the 3-month pilot, OxySure will distribute its proven intervention oxygen concentrator restoration and preventive maintenance across over 25 oxygen concentrator units in 3 hospitals in Namisindwa District. This will include an estimated over 175 individual maintenance interventions, comprising monthly technician preventive maintenance visits, rapid response repairs, weekly in-hospital equipment checks conducted by trained facility staff, oxygen purity tests, and consumable part replacements, ensuring sustained concentrator functionality above 90% and reliable oxygen therapy for patients

• During the 3-month pilot, OxySure aims to raise an additional $750 through the introduction of quarterly hospital service fees ($100 - 250 per facility) across 3 partner hospitals, while simultaneously initiating formal funding conversations with oxygen-focused donors, including UNICEF procurement partners, and Global Fund implementers, laying the groundwork for securing larger grants to fund Year 1 expansion

FOUNDING TEAM

Achong Emmanuel - CEO

Nassolo Jessica - Co-Founder

Synchora Health

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; Ghana

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Synchora Health increases immunization completion for children by delivering voice and SMS reminders to caregivers and point-of-care tracking to health workers.

Synchora Health distributes through both static and mobile child welfare clinics where frontline nurses and community health volunteers enroll children, trigger automated reminders, and record doses at the point of care. The pilot runs across three facilities in Ghana's Ashanti Region - Juaben Government Hospital, Achiase Health Center, and Bomfa Health Center - enrolling at least 300 children over three months. From there, they will scale to 30 clinics in Year 1 using a replicable model with no disruption to existing clinical workflows. The venture’s unique value is that every dose (data) recorded feeds directly into DHIMS 2(the national health information system), validating manual data entry and turning point-of-care interactions into real-time Immunization monitoring.

Led by Shadrach Tetteh Boyetey, a Physician Assistant and Health Systems Researcher focused on digital health interventions with a decade of frontline clinical experience under Ghana's Ministry of Health. Dr. Ekins Kuuzie is a medical doctor with an MSc. in Digital Health Entrepreneurship from University College London and a serial startup founder. The venture’s technical co-founders are Osumanu Ra-Is Silbaway, a computer engineer with close to a decade of industry experience, and Richard Winner Duvor, a full-stack software developer.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach a minimum of 300 children within three months.

• Distribute a minimum of 5,400 proven interventions: 2,700 automated voice call reminders and 2,700 SMS reminders.

• Raise an additional USD 25,000 during the pilot period by signing 3 private facilities onto paid subscription agreements and securing at least one additional grant.

FOUNDING TEAM

Shadrach Tetteh Boyetey - Founder

Ekins Kuuzie - Founder

Richard Winner Duvor - Founder

Osumanu Ra-Is Silbaway - Founder

Mangochi Immunization Advancement (MIA)

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; Malawi

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

MIA works on increasing full childhood immunization in Malawi by using SMS reminders and conditional cash transfers to ensure children receive life-saving vaccines on time.

MIA delivers its intervention through public health facilities in Mangochi District, Malawi, enrolling caregivers of children aged 12–35 months at the point of care. Caregivers receive automated, personalized SMS reminders before each immunization visit, while completion of scheduled visits is verified through facility records and linked to small conditional cash transfers delivered via mobile money. The model is integrated with existing EPI systems and implemented in coordination with frontline health workers to ensure accuracy and accountability. Our pilot will run across six health facilities, reaching 500 children and their caregivers. What sets MIA apart is its tightly integrated, real-time verification and payment system that directly links immunization events to incentives, ensuring both high reliability and impact at low cost.

MIA was founded by Suzgo James Mwasikakata alongside Michelle Mwampashi Samuel, Dr. Kondwani C. Mamba, and Ketson Kayuni, a multidisciplinary team with expertise in public health, digital systems, and financial management. The team combines strong experience in immunization and health systems strengthening with finance and internal audit expertise from Michelle and Ketson, ensuring robust financial accountability. Suzgo James Mwasikakata leads the venture’s strategy and implementation in Malawi.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 500 children and their caregivers during the pilot phase, implemented across 6 health facilities in Mangochi District, Malawi.

• SMS reminders: ~6,000 messages (500 caregivers × ~12 reminders each, assuming 3 reminders per visit across 4 immunization visits), Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs): up to 2,000 payments within three months

• Fundraise $30,000 in additional funding within three months from new investors and donors, complemented by continued engagement and support from the D-Prize.

FOUNDING TEAM

Suzgo James Mwasikakata - CEO/Founder

Michelle Mwampashi Samuel - Programs Manager

Kondwani C. Mamba - Technical Advisor

Ketson Kayuni - Internal Advisor

FemCare Initiative

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; Nigeria

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Cervical cancer screenings

Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.  

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

FemCare Initiative is dedicated to ensuring no woman in Nigeria dies of cervical cancer by combining awareness in local dialects, VIA screenings, and follow-up.

The pilot will launch in Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, where awareness and access to cervical cancer screening remain very low. FemCare Initiative uses a women-to-women model that brings together community health workers, cervical cancer survivors, and medical volunteers. Survivors share their stories in the local dialect, building trust and motivating women to seek screening. Community health workers provide quality VIA screening, mobilize women, and ensure referrals for positive cases, while the team and medical volunteers support with outreach, education, and distribution of culturally appropriate materials. What sets FemCare Initiative apart is how they combine survivors’ voices with medical care, making screening both trusted and accessible.

FemCare Initiative was founded in 2025 by a team of medical doctors, Dr. Victory Ifeanyichukwu Uzoma. Dr. Joan Erhazele, and Dr. Chinonso Arinze, all passionate about women’s health. Dr. Victory serves as Executive Director and Team Lead, Dr. Joan leads Operations, and Dr. Arinze oversees Communications and Patient Navigation. Together, the team combines medical expertise, community project experience, and a shared commitment to reducing cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Conduct awareness and community sensitization on cervical cancer screening to 4,500 women during the pilot.

• Screen 500 women for cervical cancer using VIA, link positive cases to treatment centers and carry out follow-up care.

• Fundraise USD 10,000 during the pilot.

FOUNDING TEAM

Dr. Victory Ifeanyichukwu Uzoma - Executive Director

Dr. Arinze Chinonso Augustus - Head of Communications & Patient Navigation

Dr. Joan Ewanose Erhazele - Operations Officer

EGPATH (Empowering Girls to Prevent Adolescent Teen Pregnancy and HIV)

SUGAR DADDY AWARENESS CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sugar Daddy Awareness classes

Learn more about the Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge and how a simple, one-hour “sugar daddy awareness” training could help countless girls avoid pregnancy while still in school, which can lead to entrenched poverty, and build a better life.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

EGPATH (Empowering Girls to Prevent Adolescent Teen Pregnancy and HIV) is a start-up initiative based in Mbale city that envisions a world where every adolescent girl, particularly those aged 13 - 19, is empowered to take charge of her future, equipped with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about her sexual health.

EGPATH’s primary distribution unit is its network of trained facilitators within schools. These facilitators are responsible for delivering the Sugar Daddy Awareness curriculum to students, facilitating discussions, and engaging with the community. They serve as the direct link between EGPATH and the target population, ensuring that the program reaches the students effectively. Facilitators will be selected based on their ability to engage 13-year-old girls and experience in reproductive health, HIV prevention, or youth mentorship.

Partner schools act as additional distribution units by providing classroom space, integrating sessions into timetables, and granting access to students. This ensures consistent, school-based delivery, while collaboration with local education and health offices builds community ownership and sustainability.
Through this model, EGPATH can scale efficiently: starting with two schools in Mbale, expanding to eight schools across three districts in the first year, and reaching over 150,000 students in the Bugisu region within five years.

Daniel Kasansula provides strategic leadership, builds partnerships, secures funding, and oversees project implementation. With extensive experience leading large-scale adolescent health programs, he brings the expertise, vision, and determination to ensure EGPATH’s impact is measurable and sustainable.

Belinda Achom manages daily operations, coordinates trainings, oversees logistics, supervises facilitators, leads research and development efforts and ensures effective communication and reporting. Her organizational skills and hands-on approach ensure that programs run efficiently while maintaining a personal connection with the communities we serve.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 350 adolescent girls.

• Deliver one-hour sessions to all targeted girls in the pilot schools.

• Raise $5,000 in supplementary funding from local partners and donors during the pilot.

FOUNDING TEAM

Daniel Kasansula - Founder

Belinda Achom - Co-Founder

GirlSmart Education

SUGAR DADDY AWARENESS CHALLENGE; KENYA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sugar Daddy Awareness classes. 

Learn more about the Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge and how a simple, one-hour “sugar daddy awareness” training could help countless girls avoid pregnancy while still in school, which can lead to entrenched poverty, and build a better life.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

GirlSmart Education’s mission is to amplify the life outcomes of over 5 million girls across East Africa by enhancing their knowledge of high-risk sexual behaviours, averting early teenage pregnancies and reducing HIV/STI transmission.

GirlSmart will pilot in Kariobangi, Nairobi, a low-income residential area with high rates of teenage pregnancy and HIV prevalence. In its pilot, 250 youth will receive the Sugar Daddy awareness intervention, equipping them with life-changing knowledge about risk profiles. What sets them apart is their hybrid centralised and decentralised distribution model, which allows for both direct internal scale-up and rapid national expansion through an MoU with Kenya’s Ministry of Education. By combining this with their partnership model, where they build recurring relationships with schools and health clinics, they can reach 100,000 youth in just under 2 years.

GirlSmart Education was started in 2025 by Kalori Wesonga and Faith Mutinda. Kalori Wesonga serves as GirlSmart’s Project Manager, while Faith Mutinda serves as Program Coordinator.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 250 youth will receive the Sugar Daddy Awareness Intervention within 3 months.

• Using 2 peer facilitators, we will distribute 6 proven interventions.

• Fundraising an additional $300,000 USD from new donors or investors within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Kalori Wesonga - Founder

Faith Mutinda - Co-Founder

Women's Choice Initiative

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; Nigeria

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sayana Press injectable contraceptive.  

Learn more about the Sayana®  Press Challenge and why training health providers to administer Sayana® Press can be particularly valuable for women who prefer injectable contraceptives but don’t have regular access.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Women's Choice Initiative seeks to increase access to self-injectable contraceptives for women. It will achieve 200 doses of Sayana Press to 200 women over three months, reaching 800 beneficiaries through household impact and, in the long run, over 10,000 women.

The distribution model works through Private Patent Medicine Stores (PPMS) in Bakassi LGA, Cross River State, who will be trained and supplied with Sayana Press to administer to women in their communities. Each woman will receive a three-month dose, and the providers will ensure follow-up and continuous uptake while tracking usage data. They complement this with demand-generation through household outreach, ensuring entire families benefit from improved reproductive health. What sets Women's Choice Initiative apart is its strong government partnerships, which position it to quickly transition from pilot to large-scale adoption through sustained contraceptive supply chains.

Women’s Choice Initiative was started in 2025 by Abigail Nyala. She serves as the full-time Founder and Program Director, leading efforts to expand access to reproductive health solutions for women.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 200 women through 20 patent medical stores.

• Distribute 200 proven interventions.

• Raise an additional $5,000.

FOUNDING TEAM

Abigail Princess Nyala - Founder and Program Director

Lead Sisters Health Initiative

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; Nigeria

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Cervical cancer screenings

Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.  

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Lead Sisters Health Initiative tackles the high rate of preventable cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria, starting in Anambra state, through a community-based, scalable model to deliver cervical cancer screenings.

The model encompasses training community health nurses who will educate women about cervical cancer and encourage participation in screening programs. They will collaborate with existing Primary Healthcare Centres to provide follow-up care and referrals for women who test positive to the state teaching hospital. Through community outreaches, they will educate communities about cervical cancer prevention and the importance of early screening. Lead Health Organisation will use a digital health platform to track screenings, results, and follow-up care, ensuring accountability and enabling data-driven improvements. By training local healthcare providers and advocating for government integration, they will build a sustainable system that continues beyond the initial program phase.

The founding team is led by Chiamaka Ibeanu, a public health professional and a nurse with research expertise in cancer screenings and infectious diseases, who has strong operational skills and drives strategic visions.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 120 women during the pilot.

• Distribute 120 interventions during the pilot.

• Fundraise USD 20,000 during the pilot.

FOUNDING TEAM

Chiamaka Modesta Ibeanu - Founder

OLK HealthTech Consults Ltd

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and how proper maintenance of oxygen concentrators expands access to medical oxygen to save lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OLK HealthTech Consults Ltd’s mission is to strengthen healthcare systems by enhancing biomedical engineering capacity through locally driven, sustainable solutions that restore functionality to life-saving medical equipment and prevent avoidable deaths.

The distribution model is centered around deploying trained biomedical engineering graduates as frontline oxygen support agents in under-resourced hospitals, beginning with a pilot in Tororo District, Eastern Uganda. These graduates are equipped with toolkits, mentorship, and a structured deployment plan to restore functionality to critical oxygen concentrators and train healthcare workers in basic maintenance.

By embedding technical capacity directly within district health facilities, OLK HealthTech’s model reduces equipment downtime, empowers local teams, and extends the lifespan of life-saving technologies. What sets them apart is their hybrid focus on both device functionality and local human capital development, solving two system gaps at once. This locally grounded, cost-effective approach offers a replicable model for nationwide scale.

OLK HealthTech Consults Ltd was founded by three Ugandan biomedical engineers, Solomon Canna Owino, Success Kamuhanda, and Moses Luswata, driven by a shared vision to solve critical health system gaps through local biomedical innovation. The team combines expertise in clinical engineering, health technology management, and biomedical training, with years of hands-on experience in Uganda’s public hospitals. Success Kamuhanda currently leads the venture’s strategy and technical coordination.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Improve access to life-saving oxygen for over 1,575 people, through preventive maintenance, calibration, and rapid repair of oxygen concentrators, across public health facilities in Tororo District Region

• Repair and maintain 315 Oxygen Concentrators, and build local biomedical capacity by training 5 biomedical engineering graduates and at least 50 hospital-based health workers (nurses, maintenance technicians, clinical officers, artisans) using a hands-on Training-of-Trainers (ToT) model.

• OLK HealthTech is seeking to raise an additional $30,000 to support the deployment of biomedical graduates, scale maintenance activities to at least 10 hospitals, procure critical spare parts and backup equipment, and expand local training programs that will improve oxygen access while strengthening hospital-based biomedical capacity.

FOUNDING TEAM

Success Kamuhanda - Biomedical Engineer

Owino Solomon Canna - Biomedical Engineer

Luswata Moses - Biomedical Engineer

VaxCess

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; Ghana

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

VaxCess combines cash incentives, QR-coded tracking, and localized voice reminder system, to boost vaccination uptake and completion of childhood immunization schedules in underserved communities.

The VaxCess model combines modest cash incentives with QR-coded tracking and automated voice reminders to help caregivers overcome financial and logistical barriers to completing immunization schedules. The 3-month pilot will enroll 100 caregivers in the central sub-metro area of the Tamale Metropolitan District in Northern Ghana, directly supporting their children’s vaccination journeys. What sets VaxCess apart is its unique integration of incentives and technology to address demand-side barriers in a context where most interventions focus only on supply.

VaxCess is founded by Chelsea Mambora Yamyia, a health systems and policy researcher from Ghana with expertise in implementation science, equity-focused interventions, and maternal and child health. Chelsea has led and supported multiple health projects, including randomized controlled trials, GIS-based health access studies, and digital health policy research.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 100 caregivers

• Deliver 600+ vaccine doses

• Fundraise an additional $15,000 USD from new donors and investors

FOUNDING TEAM

Chelsea Mambora Yamyia - Founder

MomsFirst

MATERNAL HEALTH CHALLENGE; Nepal

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Misoprostol.

Learn more about the Maternal Health Challenge and how the distribution of Misoprostol, a $3 drug that can prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage, could save thousands of lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

MomsFirst prevents maternal death in Nepal by providing misoprostol through trained FCHVs going door to door.

MomsFirst trains FCHVs to distribute misoprostol to pregnant women in remote areas, starting with the pilot in the province. FCHVs will identify pregnant women in the 3rd trimester, provide prenatal advice and misoprostol for use after childbirth. MomsFirst will work through the already existing network of trusted community health volunteers, ensuring both outreach and acceptance, which is what sets them apart.

MomsFirst is founded by Dr. Samriddhi Parajuli, leading the organisation’s vision and strategy with a core team, including Dr. Asim Pandey as a cofounder. Both are medical professionals with firsthand experience working in Nepal’s rural healthcare system, with a deep understanding of the urgent need for effective interventions for preventing maternal deaths.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Train at least 20 FCHVs and reach 300 women with Misoprostol.

• Distribute 300 Misoprostol via FCHVs going through door to door in the community.

• Fundraise an additional 20000 USD from new donors or collaborations.

FOUNDING TEAM

Dr. Samriddhi Parajuli - Founder

Dr. Asim Pandey - Cofounder

Tufaayo Foundation

SUGAR DADDY AWARENESS CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sugar Daddy Awareness classes. 

Learn more about the Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge and how a simple, one-hour “sugar daddy awareness” training could help countless girls avoid pregnancy while still in school, which can lead to entrenched poverty, and build a better life.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Tufaayo Foundation’s Sugar Daddy Awareness Program aims to empower grade 8 (senior one) teenagers in the Lira District with knowledge about the risks of partnering with older men. The program targets 250 girls in 3 months, 1,000 girls in 1 year, and aims for a long-term reach of 100,000 girls in 5 years.

This is an educational program that will provide teenagers with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about relationships, particularly regarding the risks associated with partnering with older men. What sets the Tufaayo Foundation apart is the use of fellow youth to empower youth.

Tufaayo Foundation was founded by Nabaziwa Jannat, Mugerwa Moses and Muhindo Moureen, a team of youths who are passionate about youth empowerment and led by Nabaziwa Jannat as the Executive Director.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 250 girls.

• Deliver 6 proven interventions.

• Raise an additional $5000.

FOUNDING TEAM

Jannat Nabaziwa - Executive Director

Mugerwa Moses - Co-Founder

Muhindo Moureen - Co-Founder

YouScreen

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Cervical cancer screenings

Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.  

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

YouScreen is dedicated to reducing cervical cancer fatalities in Uganda through community-driven, women-to-women initiatives.

YouScreen’s operating model uses women to empower women with information on voluntary cervical cancer screening for all eligible women. Their model will use eight cancer survivors recruited from within the local communities and given training on cervical cancer risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis if found and treated early, as well as the process of screening and the value of early diagnosis.

This will be complemented by the distribution of flyers that contain their phone number in addition to information about cervical cancer, testimonials, and screening inclusion criteria.

YouScreen will follow up with their partner health facilities in the Gulu district to ensure that people who test positive receive support for the treatment of cervical cancer and build the referral pathway.

All founding members are midwives. Otim Raymond holds a post-graduate degree in project planning and management, Ayikoru Jackline graduated with a master's in Bioethics, Fred Mubbale is a passionate researcher and Akello Eunice is dedicated to clinical practice.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Conduct awareness and community sensitization on cervical cancer screening to about 5000 women during the pilot.

• Screen 2000 women for cervical cancer using VIA, link positive cases to treatment centers and make follow-ups on care.

• Fund-raise $15,000 during the pilot.

FOUNDING TEAM

Raymond Otim - Team Lead

Fred Mubbale - Public Relations Officer

Eunice Akello - Project Coordinator

Jackline Ayikoru - Quality Assurance and Ethics Officer

Taasa-Abato Health Link

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Taasa-Abato Health link is focused on improving child immunization uptake in slums/ urban-poor communities in Kampala district, which have been observed to have low uptake, high drop-out rates/missed doses and vaccine hesitancy despite the availability of free and safe vaccines in public health facilities around them.

Taasa-Abato Health Link is set to implement the pilot program in the slums of Rubaga division, Kampala. The initiative will apply four strategies which will include awareness creation through health education at the household level and antenatal and postnatal service points in public health facilities.

The second strategy will be client identification by village health teams (VHTs) who will review child health cards of infants and toddlers during door-to-door visits.

Thirdly, there will be the use of SMS and phone calls as reminders to caregivers on the next immunization appointment for their children, and finally provision of cash incentives to ease economic barriers to immunization uptake, which is a unique strategy proven to attract program acceptance in low-income settings, yet it hasn’t been adopted by most implementing partners in Uganda.

Taasa-Abato Health Link was founded by Magero Victoria and Mwesigye Emmanuel. Victoria serves as the Program Implementation Manager overseeing the technical aspects, while Emmanuel is in charge of Monitoring and Evaluating the implementation process.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Mobilize the parents/caregivers of 300 children in Rubaga division, Kampala district, to complete routine immunisations for their children

• Send 3000 USD worth of cash incentives to caregivers upon taking their children for routine immunisation, and send out 1000 SMS reminders for immunization appointments.

• Raise additional funding of $5000 by the end of 3 months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Victoria Magero - Founder, Program Implementation Manager

Emmanuel Mwesigye - Co-Founder, M&E

Count Down to Zero Initiative (C2Z)

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Cervical cancer screenings

Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.  

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

The Count Down to Zero Initiative (C2Z) aims to reduce cervical cancer-related mortality by increasing access to cervical screening services through a community-led approach, embracing high-impact partnerships, and optimizing sustainability with green energy solutions distribution of the world's existing poverty interventions.

C2Z aims to create a community-driven, cost-effective, and accessible cervical cancer screening and referral program in three sub-counties (Gweri, Kamuda and Dakabela) of Soroti District by:

• Empowering Community Resource Persons (CRPs) to promote screening and referrals, prioritizing male involvement for shared household decision-making.

• Procuring portable, reusable equipment and enhancing partnerships with nursing institutions, other maternal health partners and government healthcare workers to provide screening services through static and mobile clinics.

• Facilitating referrals for VIA-positive women using sustainable transportation solutions like battery-charged bicycles

Dr. Gilbert Elijah Sangadi and Dr. Fridah Akello are experienced public health experts and medical doctors. They co-founded the Count Down to Zero Initiative to provide accessible cervical cancer screening in Uganda’s Teso region. With Dr. Sangadi's expertise in public health management and Dr. Akello's focus on maternal & child health and HIV/AIDS care, they are dedicated to reducing cervical cancer-related mortality through innovative, community-driven healthcare solutions.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• C2Z will reach not less than 736 men and 1472 women with messages; screen 552 women for Cervical Cancer using Visual Inspection with acetic acid (VIA), refer and link all VIA-positive women for treatment and support.

• Their model has three (3) key distribution units; 46 Community Resource Persons and 18 healthcare workers trained and facilitated to offer CaCx literacy, screening and referrals from 3 static clinics and 9 outreaches.

• Raise additional USD 27,000 for the scale up.

FOUNDING TEAM

Dr. Sangadi Gilbert Elijah - Project Coordinator

Dr. Fridah Akello - Quality and Knowledge Management Advisor

Waves of Resilience

PMTCT CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Retention in care and adherence to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV

Learn more about the PMTCT Challenge and how increasing completion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV can decrease HIV rates and improve lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Waves of Resilience hopes to build strong community-led PMTCT service delivery systems.

Waves of Resilience will pilot the community group antenatal care model (CG-ANC) to mitigate the challenges created by the geographical barrier in the Buvuma Islands.

Using this model, pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBFW) will be supported to form motherhood clubs within their communities to enhance ANC attendance, psychosocial support, and increase access to integrated HIV, maternal and child health services.

To build and strengthen community support systems, distribution channels and linkages, they will use an integrated approach, leveraging and blending the influence of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) with the efforts of Community Peer Supporters (CPS) and Health facility linkage facilitators (FLF). Community-led models are sustainable and cost-effective.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 450 beneficiaries during the pilot.

• Distribute 1 proven intervention during the pilot.

• Raise $8000 in additional funding.

FOUNDING TEAM

Nabanoba Alice Vivian - Team Leader

Namatovu Josephine - Resource Mobilization Officer

Nansubuga Hope - Technical Field Officer

Afya Njema

PMTCT CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Retention in care and adherence to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV

Learn more about the PMTCT Challenge and how increasing completion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV can decrease HIV rates and improve lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Afya Njema aims to increase access to quality and timely PMTCT services in rural and resource-limited communities.

Afya Njema uses the expert clients model as a low-cost task-shifting approach to bridging the care gaps created by low health facility staffing levels and high patient load in Kabarole district, Uganda.

The pilot will use a combination of community-based and health facility-based expert clients who will serve as a bridge between the community and clinic. The aim will be to test the effectiveness of expert clients in using client-centred differentiated service delivery models to increase HIV testing, linkage and enrollment in care, ART adherence, follow-up and retention in care.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 1200 beneficiaries during the pilot.

• Distribute 2 interventions during the pilot.

• Fundraise an additional $20,000 from other donors.

FOUNDING TEAM

Gulemye Isaac - Public Health Specialist

Tebusweke Brian - Maternal Health Specialist

Mulungi Faith - Clinical Psychologist

OxyCare Uganda

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and how proper maintenance of oxygen concentrators expands access to medical oxygen to save lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OxyCare Uganda aims to sustainably care for oxygen concentrators to save the lives of people in communities that would have lost their lives due to a lack of oxygen and functional oxygen concentrators.

OxyCare Uganda’s operating model is rooted in the community. They will recruit and empower local biomedical and electrical technicians, providing them with facility-based oxygen concentrator simulation training. This approach will ensure timely assessment, maintenance, and repair of oxygen concentrators in Northern Uganda, fostering a sense of ownership and trust within the community.

Together with trained and skilled technicians, OxyCare Uganda will train oxygen concentrator users at health facilities to use simple maintenance techniques to reduce errors and downtime. OxyCare Uganda will go beyond maintenance and repair by offering rental and leasing services for backup oxygen concentrators and cylinders during emergencies.

OxyCare will maintain a reliable 24/7 helpline distributed to partnered and all other regional hospitals for seamless communication and immediate response. This ensures that service requests, including emergencies, are never delayed. They will also develop a dynamic website with a 24/7 helpline, standard operating procedures (SOPs), a quick maintenance guide, and an online form for requesting maintenance and repair support, providing a secure and trusted platform. A standby motorcycle will support the repair and maintenance team in responding to emergencies, performing routine assessments, and performing repairs and maintenance.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 70 children and other individuals in need of oxygen within three months.

• Repair and maintain 23 Oxygen Concentrators in three months.

• Fundraise an additional $20,000 from new donors and investors within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Solomon Piwun - Biomedical Engineer

Peter Kalulu - Public Health Specialist

Pius Okwairwoth - Electrician

Tony Abeka - Finance and Administration

ChildVax

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

ChildVax aims to increase childhood immunization coverage in Uganda.

ChildVax shall increase childhood vaccination coverage in Bukwo district by creating a network of Village Health Teams (VHTs) and providing transport refunds to financially disadvantaged caregivers. ChildVax shall conduct a thorough needs assessment in Bukwo district to identify areas with the lowest vaccination coverage rates and the primary reasons for this, recruit and select dedicated individuals from local communities to serve as VHT members and train them.

VHTs should work closely with the local community to identify caregivers who are financially disadvantaged and unable to afford transportation costs for vaccination visits. ChildVax shall develop a reminder system that sends text messages or makes phone calls to all caregivers a few days before their child's vaccination appointment.

Once the program proves successful in Bukwo district, the team will develop a plan to expand it to neighboring regions with low vaccination coverage, seek partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to scale the program to a national level.

ChildVax was founded in 2022 by a dedicated team consisting of Yeko Olive, a seasoned nurse specializing in childhood immunization, Dr. Ivan Chemos, with vast experience in managing immunization projects, and Chepkwurui Abigail, an experienced financial manager.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 beneficiaries/ children in the 3 month pilot period.

• Send 5000 reminder text messages to care givers for immunization.

• Raise additional funding of $50000 by the end of 3 months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Olive Yeko - Program Manager

Dr. Ivan Chemos - Technical Advisor

Abigail Chepkwurui - Operations Manager