Malaria is a disease that has posed a nagging problem in African countries for decades. But this is set to change, with the invention of a groundbreaking test for this ailment. A Ugandan software engineer has won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. 24 year-old Brian Gitta is the first Ugandan to win the prestigious Africa Prize, and the youngest winner so far.
Partnering with his friends, Brian developed Matibabu, a device which tests for malaria without drawing blood. It’s a low-cost, reusable device that clips onto a patient’s finger, requiring no specialist expertise to operate. The results are available within one minute on a mobile phone that is linked to the device. Matibabu means ‘treatment’ in Swahili.
Depending on changes in the shape, colour and concentration of red blood cells, a red beam of light shining through the patient’s finger detects this and translates it into data recorded on the mobile phone.
Gitta has clinched the first prize of UK £25,000 (124 million Ugandan shillings). The awards ceremony took place in Nairobi, Kenya on 13 June 2018. Four finalists from across sub-Saharan Africa delivered presentations which were then voted upon by Africa Prize judges and a live audience.
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. Its aim is to encourage talented sub-Saharan African engineers to develop innovations that address crucial problems in their communities in a new, appropriate way. The prize was founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK.
Gitta and his team got the idea to develop the device after missing lectures, due to getting malaria several times. Matibabu is currently undergoing testing in partnership with a national hospital in Uganda, and is sourcing suppliers for the magnetic and laser components required to upscale production.
Greater things lie ahead for the Matibabu team. After their participation in the Africa Prize, they have been offered support by international researchers. They are also currently writing their ground-breaking findings into an academic paper which will be published within the next few months.
