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By Judith Matanire
Cimas Health Group and the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) have partnered to use technology by developing practical, technology-driven healthcare solutions for the country, Nhau/Indaba has learnt.
This emerged at a groundbreaking healthathon held at HIT dubbed Healthathon’24 Friday, designed to foster innovative solutions for Zimbabwe’s current healthcare challenges.
Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal, and Courier Services, Dr. Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera, represented by the ministry’s Secretary Dr. Beullah Chirume, underscored the need for digital transformation in healthcare, pointing out that technology such as telemedicine and data-driven diagnostics could drastically enhance healthcare accessibility.
She underscored President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of embracing digitisation not just for social media and entertainment, but for critical sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture.
“Our government is committed to creating an environment that nurtures talent and supports the use of ICT in all sectors, especially healthcare. Healthathon’24 is essential for Zimbabwe as it fosters collaboration between the public and private sectors, academia, and young innovators.
“I am inspired to witness the creativity, collaboration, and hard work each of you has put into developing solutions that could reshape the future of healthcare.
“This event represents precisely what our nation needs: a spirit of innovation, a dedication to solving real-world problems, and the courage to push the boundaries of what is possible,” she said.
Mavetera also rallied youths to continue innovating in a drive to advance the country’s health care system.
“Your journey as innovators and problem-solvers continues. Through your efforts to integrate health and technology, you are advancing Zimbabwe towards a future where healthcare is efficient, accessible, and inclusive,” she said.
HIT’s Dean Racheal Chikoore expressed the significance of leveraging emerging technologies to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.
“Our teams focused on developing systems that reduce healthcare costs while ensuring high-quality patient care. They explored solutions for medication management, claims adjudication, fraud detection, and disease prevention using AI,” Chikoore explained.
Foster Akaketwa, Chief Information Officer at Cimas Health Group, underscored the significance of Healthathon’24 in tackling Zimbabwe’s pressing healthcare challenges.
“When we look at the initiatives that have been suggested here, we actually see the possibility of solutions that are relevant to a wider population of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Akaketwa emphasized Cimas’s commitment to participating in the development of practical solutions that address real-world healthcare issues.
Looking ahead, Akaketwa shared Cimas’s vision of establishing the Healthathon as an annual event, fostering a long-term partnership with the HIT and other stakeholders.
“This Healthathon is only the second one, and we see it as an annual event going forward, strengthening our collaboration with HIT and our shared commitment to innovative healthcare solutions,” he said.
By making the Healthathon a recurring event, Cimas and HIT aim to build a culture of innovation that continuously addresses Zimbabwe’s healthcare needs.
One of the standout projects was developed by the EpiApp team, which won Healthathon’24.
Their prototype technology machine for epilepsy patient monitoring was widely celebrated for its potential to improve the lives of epilepsy patients and their families. The innovative approach aims to provide better monitoring and timely care for individuals living with epilepsy, showcasing the team’s dedication to creating solutions that address real-world health issues.
Running under the theme, ‘Transforming Healthcare: Pioneering Tomorrow’s Health Solutions’, the event brought together some of the country’s most talented young minds highlighting the vast potential of technology-driven healthcare solutions in Zimbabwe through their projects. Nhau/Indaba
