South Africa— This year’s edition of the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), has recognized women’s health e-startup, FlexiGyn, for their innovative gynaecological diagnostic tool.
FlexiGyn, with its novel battery-powered, portable handheld device, is set to transform the way gynecologists diagnose and treat women’s uterine problems.
Alongside Uganda’s home security start-up, YUNGA will take home US$27,000 to further develop its products.
Moreover, four other finalists delivered pitches at the awards ceremony held alongside the London main ceremony in Accra, Ghana, before a panel of judges chose the winners.
This innovative device aims to replace anesthetics and other expensive equipment typically used in the process, improving women’s access to reproductive healthcare, especially in remote areas.
Edmund Wessels, along with his co-founder Chris Meunier aims to bring healthcare directly to women, precisely when and where they need it.
“My co-founder, Chris Meunier, and I aim to bring healthcare to a woman’s doorstep, precisely when and where they need it. FlexiGyn is portable, intuitive, and user-friendly, allowing gynecologists to offer quality screenings and timely interventions regardless of the patient’s location or lack of medical infrastructure. At the same time, it is designed to minimize discomfort,” says Wessels.
Wessels noted that the FlexiGyn team was excited beyond belief to win the Africa Prize and know that this would help to get their name out and find the right partners to complete FlexiGyn’s journey.
In addition to the hardware, Wessels and his team are developing integrated software solutions that seamlessly connect the FlexiGyn device with existing medical practice systems.
FlexiGyn will also connect obstetricians and gynecologists to general practitioners, radically increasing the frequency of diagnoses.
Streamlining patient scheduling, electronic health record synchronization, and AI-assisted diagnosis, this improved efficiency and collaboration enable healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients more frequently, enhancing the overall quality of care.
“Winning the Africa Prize enhances our purpose to make women’s healthcare convenient and accessible. The more visibility we get, the more likely others will start to innovate in this space too, solving problems for the people who need it most,” added Wessels.
A cure for the uncomfortable gynaecological inspection
FlexiGyn’s portability, intuitiveness, and user-friendly design allow gynecologists to provide quality screenings and timely interventions regardless of the patient’s location or the availability of medical infrastructure.
Moreover, the device is specifically designed to minimize discomfort during the process.
Traditional hysteroscopy systems often cause discomfort for patients due to their rigid nature, requiring additional bulky equipment for visualization.
In contrast, the revolutionary FlexiGyn features a flexible scope with a built-in light and camera, providing a more comfortable and efficient experience for both patients and healthcare providers.
In addition to the hardware, Wessels and his team are developing integrated software solutions that seamlessly connect the FlexiGyn device with existing medical practice systems.
This integration allows for improved collaboration between obstetricians, gynecologists, and general practitioners, ultimately increasing the frequency of diagnoses.
The software will also streamline patient scheduling, electronic health record synchronization, and AI-assisted diagnosis, significantly enhancing efficiency and the overall quality of care.
Edmund Wessels expresses his excitement for the future, stating, “Winning the Africa Prize strengthens our commitment to making women’s healthcare convenient and accessible. Increased visibility will inspire others to innovate in this space, addressing the needs of those who require it the most.”
More on the Africa Prize by the RAE
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, stands as the continent’s most prominent prize dedicated to supporting and expanding engineering innovation.
With a nine-year track record of identifying successful engineering entrepreneurs, the program has already supported over 130 entrepreneurs across 20 African countries since its inception in 2014.
Africa Prize judge Rebecca Enonchong FREng said “We believe Edmund’s innovation has the potential to help so many women who struggle to access reproductive healthcare and are very pleased to award FlexiGyn the Africa Prize as well. We look forward to seeing the impact of the innovations in Africa in the coming years.”
Additionally, this year’s 15 shortlisted Africa Prize entrepreneurs, from 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, received eight months of training and tailored mentoring including support with developing business plans, recruitment, IP protection, financing, and commercialization.
The Africa Prize also promotes and connects the shortlisted entrepreneurs to individuals and networks around the world who can accelerate their business and provide support with technology development – from fellow entrepreneurs and mentors to potential investors and suppliers.
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