We support pioneering young health entrepreneurs across Africa bring their innovations to life. We do this by providing financial and in-kind support to Africa Young Innovator for Health Award winners.
To strengthen the African young entrepreneurship ecosystem in health so that young people across the continent can realise their great potential as enablers of change and local capacity for healthcare innovation can be developed.
We believe in the power of young people as changemakers, innovators and leaders of today, not just tomorrow. Africa is the youngest continent on the planet. By 2050, Africa’s youth population (aged between 0 and 24 years old) will increase by nearly 50 per cent, which can be an incredible opportunity for rapid social and economic transformation.
According to the African Development Bank, 22 per cent of Africa’s working-age population are starting businesses – the highest entrepreneurship rate in the world. Yet, increasingly more investment in human capital is needed for this demographic potential to reap the development rewards it should. We want to support young entrepreneurs to innovate in health and be those enablers of change – today.
Healthcare workers are on the frontline of delivering care. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified our awareness of the critical role doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nursing assistants, community care and social workers play. Not only in providing essential services to individuals, families and communities that treat and prevent diseases, but also in promoting health. No other category of workers are so essential to the well-being of the population of every nation.
Africa bears one-quarter of the global disease burden. Africa also faces a shortage of doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and community care workers. The continent makes up only 3% of the world’s health workforce. The shortage of human and financial resources across the continent places a strain on healthcare workers and the healthcare system.
We believe that new solutions can be found, and young African entrepreneurs are the best placed to find them.
The 2021 edition of the Award will therefore focus on supporting innovations that can make a real difference to healthcare workers. This year’s Award programme will be looking for innovative healthcare solutions aimed at aimed at supporting, equipping, protecting and training healthcare workers.
IFPMA represents research-based pharmaceutical companies and associations across the globe. Research-based pharmaceutical companies make a unique contribution to global health as innovators of lifesaving and life-changing medicines and vaccines, which improved millions of lives around the world. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community find solutions that improve global health.
Speak Up Africa is a policy and advocacy action tank dedicated to catalysing leadership, enabling policy change, and increasing awareness for sustainable development in Africa. Through their platforms and relationships and with the help of partners, Speak Up Africa ensures that policy makers meet implementers; that solutions are showcased and that every sector – from individual citizens and civil society groups to global donors and business leaders – contributes critically to the dialogue and strives to form the blueprints for concrete action for public health and sustainable development.
