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COVID-19

02Jun

Emergency Dispatch Saving Pregnant Women in Nairobi During Curfew

June 2, 2020 Ordia News 24

In Kenya, just like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, pregnant mothers face the grim reality of losing their babies due to a lack of proper transportation to health facilities. Salome, a 27-year-old mother is one such case. On the 23rd of May at around midnight she started experiencing labour pains and her water broke at home. Having lost her first baby, she was determined to deliver her second baby safely so she dialed 1196 and Wheels for Life sent a taxi to take her to Huruma Nursing Home.

At Huruma Nursing Home, Salome’s labour was progressing poorly, Dr. “Jane” from Wheels for Life made a call to Rescue.co at 2.04 am requesting an ambulance to transfer Salome to Pumwani Maternity Hospital. The ambulance was dispatched four minutes later and completed her transfer in 17 minutes. Rescue.co had notified Pumwani of Salome’s condition and when she arrived she underwent an emergency cesarean section which saved both their lives. 

Speaking after her delivery, Salome credited the Wheels for Life initiative for her health and that of her baby, saying, “Were it not for this initiative, I would have walked to the hospital and am not sure the baby and I would have been fine. God bless the work of your hands that you may continue to help those in need.”

The Wheels for Life initiative is a collaboration between Rescue.co, the Ministry of Health Kenya, AMREF, Bolt, Pharmaccess Foundation,  Kenya Healthcare Federation, and Telesky that seeks to get expectant mothers to the hospital during curfew hours. As part of the initiative, a call centre managed by TeleSky has been set up that routes emergency calls to volunteer physicians. Calls that require an ambulance are directed to Rescue.co’s dispatch centre while those that can be handled by a taxi are dispatched to a Bolt taxi. 

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges women face to deliver their children. In Makueni County alone, there has been an increase in maternal mortality by a factor of 14,  with four deaths in one-week post-curfew versus 15 deaths in the previous year. The high numbers in mortality rates can be attributed to poor transportation and health facilities being reassigned for COVID-19 response, with some major public hospitals converting their maternity wards into Infectious Disease Units.

Since the Wheels for Life initiative began on April 28th, 2020, the team has fielded 3,714  calls, dispatched 198 taxis, and 60 ambulances. All of the women who have used this service have survived, and dozens of babies have been born. The calls have ranged in severity, with the most extreme ones being related to cord prolapses, hypertension, reduced fetal movement and distress, preterm labor, and severe bleeding pre and post-delivery. Their fast response rates have helped save the lives of an average of 8 mothers every night.

Caitlin Dolkart, Rescue.co Co-founder said the partnership with Villgro Kenya has given them the necessary support they need to continue saving lives.

 “We are thrilled to be working with Villgro to extend our Rescue.co services to those most in need. The grant will provide us funding to serve over 150 more mothers, and welcome 150 more babies into this world. This is one of those obvious solutions with unbelievable clear impact, and we will also use this funding to galvanise funding support from donors, the private sector, and the government.”

While the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are sure to remain with us for a long time, measures like the Wheels for Life initiative promise mothers the hope that regardless of the new normal they have a partner during their journey.

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13May

Villgro Kenya Invests $50,000 in The Pathology Network

May 13, 2020 Ordia News 20

Villgro Kenya announced an investment of $50,000 to The Pathology Network, a digital referral platform for pathologists in Kenya

Kenya has over 47,000 new cancer cases and 33,000 cancer-related deaths annually with a limited number of cancer diagnosis centres and Pathologists translating to delays in diagnosing cancer early enough for treatment. 

The Pathology Network-An Artificial Intelligence-powered digital platform linking small labs to specialized labs for seamless tests referral with access to specialists remotely to shorten the turn around time for diagnosis, promoting early medical intervention for prevention and treatment.

Through The Pathology Network Platform, small labs refer the specimen to specialized regional labs for processing and slide digitization in readiness for a Pathologist to diagnose and report on the cases remotely.

Dr Joshua Kibera, Chief Executive Officer at The Pathology Network Limited termed the  investment as catalytic  and stated that the company would also greatly benefit from  the technical assistance and business coaching offered by Villgro Kenya team.

“On behalf of everyone at The Pathology Network, I would like to thank Villgro Kenya for a meticulous and transparent due diligence process and for choosing to invest in our company. We are excited to partner with VK and look forward to revolutionizing the diagnostic space together.” 

“This investment comes at a time when most investors are scaling back on deals due to the business slump being experienced in many parts as a result of COVID-19. At Villgro Kenya, we strongly feel that this is the time that enterprises need all the financial support that they can get to cushion themselves against the negative economic impact of COVID-19. We are proud to play a small role in ensuring that startups outlive the pandemic.” Wilfred – Co-founder at Villgro Kenya.

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22Apr

Practical solutions for startups during the COVID-9 Pandemic

April 22, 2020 Ordia News 25

With the COVID-19 pandemic running into the 2nd month since the first case was announced in Kenya, there has been a shift in the operations of startups and Small and Medium Enterprises. The rising cases coupled with government imposed restrictions on movement should however not spell gloom and doom to entrepreneurs.

While some businesses have been forced to shut down others have since pivoted their business models and operations to best suit the current times. The COVID-19 challenge has revealed a crop of new innovators who are designing solutions to meet the unexpected needs that have risen from the pandemic. This is a trend we can hope to see in the coming months with more innovations emerging within the healthcare, logistics, remote working solutions and productivity software sectors. For impact investors, this is an opportunity to acquire a new pipeline while continuing to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs.

Even as the virus continues to spread startups can ensure they come out of the crisis stronger. To begin with they have to leverage their board of directors, advisors and mentors who may have been through past downturns and have seen various strategies that best work in these times. They can help the team think through various scenarios they can take to ensure the business survives.

As companies are re-evaluating their operations to reduce costs, salaries may have been the first item on the list. It is important for companies to reduce their cash-burn and increase their runway as much as possible. In the case where employees have been asked to take pay cuts, startups can consider trading cash for equity in the company. This will motivate the team as they feel they have a stake and believe in the vision for the company in the future.

Keep a lookout for opportunities your company can explore during this time. If there is a way you can pivot or change some of your core business to be part of a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, grab the opportunity and do it. This will diversify your operations and provide a source of income. A good example is Kijenzi, a 3D printing company with a focus on hospital equipment that has taken to producing social distancing aids like touchless door openers and face shields among other PPE’s.

As you monitor the situation, there are numerous resources that are available for companies with solutions to the COVID-19 virus. Take advantage of this time to position your company as part of the solution and raise money towards fighting COVID-19. Startups can survive a time like this and if they are wise enough they can come out at the top. Ensure the safety of your employees and continue to follow government directives on social distancing and safety measures.

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Dr. Beatrice Murage

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Dr. Beatrice Murage is an experienced, results-oriented leader in systems strengthening, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, digital innovation and exploration/ventures. She has successfully built teams and led strategy, policy formulation, and project implementation in emerging and established markets.

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Ordia Akelo holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics Media and Communication from Moi University. She was awarded a Climate Tracker Fellowship as a Climate journalist in 2016 & 2017. She has worked as a writer, editor and managed websites & social media sites for Standard Media Group and the African Network for Internationalization of Education.

Immanuel Momanyi_VK Pic

Immanuel is a Senior Portfolio Associate on Villgro Kenya’s team. Prior to Villgro Kenya, Immanuel gained multi-sectoral experience working firsthand with businesses throughout Sub-Saharan Africa to develop new business strategies, raise capital, and pioneer innovative products and services. He is an alumni of Zamara Actuaries, Administrators and Consultants and holds a Bachelors in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Immanuel likes everything related to nature, cars, and believes gaming is cool.

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Rescue by Flare, an emergency response platform in Kenya is using their robust dispatch system to manage all intake and triage at Kenya’s main COVID-19 isolation, testing, and treatment facilities.

As part of the Wheels For Life consortium, they have also partnered with the Ministry of Health Kenya, AMREF, Bolt, Pharmaccess Foundation, Kenya Healthcare Federation, and Telesky to get expectant mothers to the hospital during curfew hours.

Through their network of first responders, the team has fielded 3,714  calls, dispatched 198 taxis, and 60 ambulances. Their fast response rates have helped save the lives of an average of 8 mothers every night, since the initiative began.

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Telemedicine platform enables patients to get treatment from any part of the country without having to visit a hospital physically and exposing themselves to COVID-19.

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Artificial Intelligence based solutions and data analytics for diagnosis of Covid-19 from Xray images. Have developed a system that detects COVID-19 using AI in real time.
Images can be uploaded to the system via a website portal and diagnosis is returned in real time

VentilateAfrica

Ventilate Africa have developed a ventilator locally for the treatment of COVID 19. This is in line with the impending global shortage of ventilators due to the high number of cases in countries with low healthcare infrastructure.

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A functional prototype of a locally manufactured ventilator developed using a wind screen motor. Currently working closely with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute to develop the second prototype that meets global standards.

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Simbona Africa, an Ethiopian healthcare research and development company developed a fully automated UVC room sterilizer for use in hospitals and public spaces.

The  UVC apparatus is fitted with UVC lamps (8 watts) that emit high-intensity ultraviolet light that is able to kill microorganisms and pathogens found on surfaces in the room including COVID-19. It has the ability to disinfect up to 40 square meters of a room at any given time.

They have manufactured 14 units and are in the process of delivering 30 orders requested from the Ministry of Health Ethiopia. Villgro Kenya will help scale their production and unlock regional partnerships so that their devices can serve other countries within the region.

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Medixus is a case management platform for medical practitioners which also has a tele-medicine interface for patients. In response to COVID-19 they have incorporated daily fact based updates on COVID-19 for clinicians.

Using the platform, clinicians can share case studies of patients securely, professionally discuss, debate, ask questions and share their insights.

The platform has helped improve case management and clinical practice.

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Lishe Living is offering chronic disease management via an online platform to reduce risk of COVID-19 mortality and morbidity from pre-existing conditions. With social distancing requirements in place reduced hospital visits have been recorded leading to a burden on patients with non-communicable diseases to manage their conditions. With Lishe Living they are able to reduce the risk of infection as they can manage their conditions from the comfort of their homes. Villgro Kenya’s support will help net the right partnerships with key stakeholders while giving them appropriate mentorship from our pool of mentors well versed in the sector.

neopanda

Neopenda, a remote vital signs monitor for low resource settings is modifying the Neoguard device so that it can measure vital signs in adults and children, with potential to help with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With adequate technical support, the device will help medics respond faster to medical emergencies related to COVID-19  It can also help in identifying suspected cases who are being monitored.

The remote vital signs monitor which helps reduce the burden of a high patient to doctor ratio in rural Uganda will also help lower their risk of contracting the virus as it reduces the frequency of physical monitoring.

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Kijenzi uses 3D technology to manufacture spare parts of broken down medical equipment locally and at a fraction of the cost of buying new equipment. Kijenzi’s manufacturing hub in Kisumu is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by producing PPE’s like touchless door handles and face shields for hospital staff and other essential workers. With the technical support from Villgro Kenya, the team has delivered over 2100 face shields to 24 medical facilities.

New Team Images_Dr Kevin

Ms. Snider Mugese is a BSc. Financial Engineering graduate from Jomo Kenyatta university of Agriculture and technology (JKUAT). She is also a certified Public accountant (CPA K) currently pursuing a certification in Finance and Investment analysis. She previously worked as an accountant at NewQuest Consulting Limited, an accounting firm where she handled various companies in Bookkeeping and Tax and held a team supervisory role.

John Masanda

John Masanda is an astute entrepreneur and business executive with experience and expertise to lead diverse teams with multiple skills and multicultural background.

John has successful participated in various enterprises start-up and growth, diversifications, new products launch, new markets entry, business consolidation, mergers and acquisitions, funding and investment decisions.

John is Founder & CEO of Malfini Capital Ltd (MCL) which is investment and stockholder in Malfini Gas Ltd a distributor of BOC GASES; a leading global brand of gases and process engineering services, Malfini Energy Ltd a distributor of petroleum products Fuels & CALTEX LUBRICANTS; a leading global brand and Malfini Logistics Ltd a 3PL logistics service provider, commodity trading and FMCG distributor. MCL is an investor in Malfini Gas DRC Sarl a joint venture company participating in development of the Lake Kivu Methane Gas Project to produce methane gas for both domestic use, industrial use and power generation. John does provides advisory services to; FasterCapital LLC a virtual incubator co-founding and cofounding start-ups with innovative app-based or online based solutions, Villgro Kenya an incubator of innovative ideas on healthcare and biosciences and Capital One Group a corporate communications agency with East Africa operations and Ugavilla Development Co. Ltd a developer of affordable housing.

John has been CEO of Kenlloyd Logistics Ltd; which grew to be regional network partner and franchisee of DB Schenker of Germany; a leading global logistics service provider, negotiated and performed Fuel Supply Agreement with Jacobsen Elektro AS of Norway supporting seamlessly their 50Mw power plant in Uganda for 7 years, negotiated and signed a PPP concession with Government Of Uganda through City Authority and a subsidiary; Pioneer Easy Bus Ltd to operate public transport passenger services for 5 years. John has been instrumental in negotiating and introducing into East Africa innovative construction technologies and alternative building technologies; Probase Road System (‘’PRS’’) for roads and Lightweight Concrete Methodology (‘’LCM’’) for housing.

Daniel Ohonde-01

Daniel Ohonde is a dynamic, strategic and visionary leader with more than 25 years of exceptional leadership experience in CEO / COO and investment stewardship roles managing high performance teams. He has a combination of international development experience and broad commercial experience gained from diverse markets. His experience in the provision of patient capital to small and growing businesses (SGBs) is extensive across Africa and, as a member of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Global Executive Committee, he also brings on board a deep understanding of the SGB landscape in other developing and emerging markets globally. He is former CEO at the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF). His passion is in supporting and catalyzing early stage (and scaling) innovative enterprises and business models that can sustainably deliver social change.
He has a rich mix of human resources, operations, strategy, finance, investment, governance, resource mobilization and portfolio management experience having previously worked (across various locations internationally) with African Development Bank, Real People Financial Services, African Management Services Company (AMSCO), USAID, Plus Consultants, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola Africa, and WestConsult.
Daniel has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from University of Nairobi, MBA in Strategic Management from USIU-A and an MSc in Finance from the University of London. He is an avid tennis and cricket supporter, is married and blessed with two sons

Dr. Abdi Mohamed-01

Dr. Abdi Mohamed is an award winning serial entrepreneur who was voted as one of the Top 40 under 40 men in Kenya. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ladnan Hospital which has been acquired by a PE Fund. Dr. Abdi has been elected into leadership positions by his medical professional colleagues. Dr. Abdi has strong entrepreneurial acumen with a leaning towards social enterprises.

Wesley 2019

Wesley Ronoh is a seasoned Pharmaceutical Sector Development Expert having worked and consulted for leading International Development Agencies within East Africa and beyond. He has a deep understanding of the health technologies landscape in the developing world having been involved in developing regional and national policies and other strategic interventions aimed at improving access. He has core competencies in Life Science Product Development including technology transfer management, commercialization, manufacture and delivery to market. Wesley is a Registered Pharmacist with postgraduate degrees in Medicinal Chemistry and MBA.

Paul Basil

Mr. Basil is Founder and CEO of Villgro Innovations Foundation. Over the last decade, Mr. Basil has incubated over 130 innovative enterprises, creating over 4000 jobs, touching around 5 million lives in villages across India.

Mr. Basil also co-founded Menterra Venture Advisors, a seed stage, impact fund that makes venture investments in for-profit, impactful enterprises.

Apart from the core of his mission, which is incubating early stage, innovative businesses, Paul also has contributed to building the social enterprise eco-system in India. Unconvention, India’s leading conference on innovation and social entrepreneurship is organized in 15 cities across India, a Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT-Madras that focuses on research and education, the ANDE India Chapter (Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs) a network of intermediaries that support small and growing businesses etc., are some of his achievements in building the eco-system in India.

Mr. Basil was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship in 2002 for his outstanding social entrepreneurship in setting up Villgro. He has also been conferred the Samaj Seva Bhushan Award and the Star Entrepreneur Award

Paul

Paul Belknap is COO, Villgro Kenya. Paul has diverse experience in both product development and social business incubation. He spent three and a half years building the Villgro India health portfolio by sourcing pipeline, leading diligence and portfolio management for multiple companies.

Rob

Rob brings a unique combination of seasoned experience in business and social entrepreneurship, education and technology. Rob is a visionary leader who has lived in Kenya for the past 11 years and is fully aware of the unique challenges that Kenyans face seeking sustainable livelihoods within the East African context.

Robert

Robert serves as the CEO, Villgro Kenya where he is spearheading the replication of the Villgro incubation model of social entrepreneurship and impact investment in the healthcare and life sciences industry. He has over 10 years of experience in global health R&D as a biomedical scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) where he discovered his passion for impacting peoples’ lives through science and innovation.

Wilfred

Wilfred brings in diverse experience having lived and worked in Middle East, Asia and Africa and travelled to 8 countries. His first immersion into startup and incubation world came while pitching his idea to a Jordanian based incubator, OASIS500. He went on to do a one year Villgro fellowship in India after which he took up the challenge of scaling Villgro to Africa.

Dr Kevin

Dr. Kevin Muite is an Investment Manager with Villgro Kenya. Kevin holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Chicago and a former consultant for large pharmaceutical clients. He began his scientific career in Durban South Africa researching HIV at the Doris Duke Medical Center at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal during his undergraduate years. He spent a year conducting research at Virginia Tech as an NIH post baccalaureate fellow researching mucosal immunology. ​

Gibson

Gibson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts (Economics) from the University of Nairobi. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA K) . He previously worked as a freelancing Accounts and Tax Consultant for SMEs and a junior financial analyst at Fledge-Africa, a financial consulting company providing investment readiness and fund raising support for Villgro Kenya’s portfolio, where he discovered his passion for due diligence and financial modeling

Moses

Moses holds an MSc. in Global Health from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in entrepreneurship from the Kenya Methodist University. He has diverse experience in managing health research and intervention programs covering areas such as substance abuse, mental health, HIV/AIDS, health promotion and behavior change programs. He has held senior roles in several non-profits including the Private Sector Development Trust, The Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya and SCAD.