Young innovators from across Africa and Canada have been recognised for their outstanding health solutions at the Health Innovation Festival 2026 (HIFest 2026), held in Accra and concluded on June 6.
The three-day event, organised by the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) and co-hosted by Ashesi University and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), brought together over 100 participants from nine countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia, and Canada.
Supported by the Mastercard Foundation, the festival showcased 37 early-stage health innovations addressing pressing healthcare challenges across the continent. The event ended with a competitive pitch session where participants competed for a share of $13,000 in prize funding.
In the early-stage category, Senegal’s KAARAANGE, affiliated with Amref Health Africa, won the top prize of $3,000 for developing an AI-powered “Smart Bin” that automatically sorts biomedical waste and disinfects it using ultraviolet light to reduce infection risks in healthcare settings.
In the idea-stage category, HerbIma from Addis Ababa University won $2,500 for its Iron+ supplement made from Ethiopian Red Teff, designed to combat childhood anaemia.
Other notable winners included StainSmart from the University of Toronto, which developed an automated diagnostic slide-staining system, and RiseBeyond Organisation from the African Leadership University, which created a mobile paediatric physiotherapy platform.
Additional recognitions went to Mosaan Health for a low-cost digital microscope, the Menstrual Empowerment Initiative for biodegradable sanitary pads made from agricultural waste, and DamuBoost, which won the People’s Choice Award for its organic blood-restoring supplement.
Participants highlighted the festival’s value in equipping them with knowledge on entrepreneurship, scaling innovations, and investment readiness. Speakers also emphasised the importance of integrating regulatory requirements early in product development, particularly for medical technologies.
Investor representatives from Impact Investing Ghana and Equity Group Foundation stressed the need for clear market demand and sustainable growth models to attract funding, while healthcare professionals highlighted the importance of designing innovations that fit smoothly into existing clinical systems.
The festival also included masterclasses, panel discussions, and ecosystem visits, including a tour of Yemaachi Biotech, where participants explored advances in genomics, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine tailored to African populations.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, CEO of Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute, linked youth-led innovation to broader efforts toward health sovereignty and local medical manufacturing in Africa.
Closing the event, Dr. Penina Lam of the Africa Health Collaborative urged innovators to focus on “presence, partnership, and promise” as guiding principles for scaling impactful health solutions across the continent.
The Africa Health Collaborative, a multi-country initiative spanning Africa and Canada, aims to train 30,000 primary healthcare workers, upskill 60,000 health professionals, support 5,000 ventures, and create 20,000 jobs to strengthen healthcare systems and expand opportunities for young people.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
