Four local projects in Corona Action Rwanda have won grants worth more than Rwf100 million, an initiative designed to support solutions to cushion the impact of Covid-19 on the Rwandan population.
The initiative was initiated by the ICT and Innovation Ministry, in collaboration with the development institutions of entrepreneurship; Jasiri, Inkomoko, Norrsken Foundation, and Westerwelle Start-up Haus.
Following a month-long screening process of more than 400 submissions, four applications stood out as winners of a grant between $20,000 and $40,000 (Rwf19-38 million) each, depending on the need and impact.
They will also receive funding for business and product growth over the next three months, with potential extension, as well as a chance to join Jasiri’s accelerator program.
The winning solutions were chosen on the basis of time-sensitivity criteria and socio-economic impact mitigation caused by the global pandemic.
They are; The Ihangane Project, IPRC Kigali ‘s Emergency ventilator, Insightiv and Iriba Water Group.
The Ihangane Project (TIP)
In response to Covid-19, The Ihangane Project has come up with a solution by offering an improved E-Heza, a patient-centered data system for acute disease screening , diagnosis, treatment and care management to Community health workers and nurses.
It helps local health workers harness individual patient data as they work to lower rates of maternal and infant mortality, as well as stunting infants.
Being the first point of health care record for Rwanda, E-Heza has been able to attract government interest through the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund.
Made-in-Rwanda Emergency ventilator
In order to help patients in critical condition due to Covid-19, Joseph Habiyaremye and his team at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC Kigali) built a low cost emergency ventilator.
In addition to responding to the outbreak, the ventilators can normally be used in ICU (Intensive Care Unit), and the team is also developing a version that can be used in an ambulance.
Insightiv
Insightiv developed an artificial intelligence-powered radiology system that enables medical imaging specialists to serve patients nationwide, remotely, in a short time.
The technology reduces the delayed outcomes and improves clinical results. Although the system existed before Covid-19, the global pandemic has amplified its need to restrain easy mobility and to pause financial constraints for patients and healthcare providers.
Iriba Water Group Ltd
The winning approach for the business is a tap-and-drink booth that leaves free drinking water accessible to the public at any time of need. Called water ATMs, the kiosks are placed in crowded areas such as areas and reusable bottles or cups are used by the public to avoid single-use plastics.
“The Corona Action Rwanda is timely in accelerating the implementation of solutions that will save many lives during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond,” said Yves Iradukunda, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, adding that the awarded projects will make an impact on Rwanda and beyond.
Under this program, another 13 Rwandan organizations agreed to fund 30 projects that did not win the grant but showed their capacity for weathering Covid-19 ‘s unprecedented disruptions.
