Ugandan wins Africa prize for bloodless malaria test
A Ugandan inventor has won a major prize for a device which tests for malaria without drawing blood.
Brian
Gitta, 24, won the Royal Academy of Engineering's Africa Prize for a
device that detects tell-tale signs of malaria by shining a red beam of
light on the patient's finger.
The diagnosis is ready to be shared to a mobile phone in a minute.
He developed the device, called Matibabu, after blood tests failed to diagnose his own malaria.
Malaria
is the leading cause of death in Uganda, but it took four blood tests
to diagnose Mr Gitta with the disease, Shafik Sekitto, who is part of
the Matibabu team, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"[Gitta]
brought up the idea: 'Why can't we find a new way of using the skills
we have found in computer science, of diagnosing a disease without
having to prick somebody?" Mr Sekitto said.
"Matibabu is simply a game-changer," Rebecca Enonchong, Africa
Prize for Engineering Innovation judge and Cameroonian technology
entrepreneur, said in a statement.
"It's a perfect example of how engineering can unlock development - in this case by improving healthcare."
Matibabu, which means "treatment" in Swahili, clips onto a patient's finger and does not require a specialist to operate.
Its
red beam can detect changes in the colour, shape and concentration of
red blood cells - all of which are affected by malaria.
The
majority of global deaths caused by malaria - usually transmitted by the
bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito - occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
His team hopes the device can one day be used as a way to better detect malaria across the continent.
'Not an easy journey'
But
before that, Matibabu has to go through a number of regulators before
being available in the market, Mr Sekitto told the BBC.
It is "not an easy journey because you have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the device is safe for human use", he said.
In
the meantime, the Matibabu team are currently writing an academic paper
on their findings, have been approached by international researchers
offering support, and are currently performing field trials on the
device.
The prize, which was set up in 2014, provides support,
funding, mentoring and business training to the winners, the Royal
Academy of Engineering said in a statement.
Mr Gitta has also been awarded £25,000 ($33,000) in prize money from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
"The
recognition will help us open up partnership opportunities - which is
what we need most at the moment," Mr Gitta said in a statement.
BBC
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