Ugandan Engineer Designs a smart jacket that Detects Pneumonia
Pneumonia is one of the Dangerous killer Diseases in Africa for the Infant Generation. According to WHO :
- Pneumonia accounts for 16% of all deaths of children under 5 years old, killing 920 136 children in 2015.
- Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
- Pneumonia can be prevented by immunization, adequate nutrition, and by addressing environmental factors.
- Pneumonia caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but only one third of children with pneumonia receive the antibiotics they need.
Brian, together with his team which comprises of, Olivia Koburongo (project manager), Besufekad Shifferaw (lead technical developer), Dr. Rodney Sekate (medical consultant) and Angella Namwase (medical researcher) have designed a smart jacket alias MamaOpe. The smart jacket is designed to diagnose pneumonia, four times faster than a health practitioner would and with improved accuracy.
Using sensors, the jacket listens to body reactions at particular points of interest, such as the lung crepitations and wheezes, measures the breathing rate, then processes and analyses this information to give a deduction. The jacket then computes the results and sends the results to a mobile app using Bluetooth connection. The app then gives a conclusive result to the user.
“OUR VISION IS TO CUT PNEUMONIA DEATH RATES IN AFRICA BY 50%”
The kit is still under testing as they await certification. The team’s main challenge is the lack of raw materials, in Uganda, required to develop the jacket, thus slowing down their speed of execution. Brian says that the vision of MamaOpe, is to cut pneumonia death rates in Africa by 50%. They are looking to partner with health authorities and NGOs, direct sales of the jacket to private clinics, hospitals and families as their revenue model.
The MamaOpe kit is a promise for a healthier African child, and our hope is that Brian and his team will overcome their challenges and expand their reach beyond Africa, soon.
Featured Image : Brian Turyabagye (centre), Olivia Koburongo (left) and Besufekad Shifferaw (right).
Source Techweez.
