Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa has announced the launching of a revolutionary digital to platform to administer medical diagnoses hundreds of kilometres away from a clinic. Very soon it might just take a cellphone in one’s hand to obtain crucial medical checks.
The network once completed successfully will see poor people in rural areas access medical examinations via a simple phone connection.
Masiyiwa announced this platform calling it the Econet Disease Surveillance Network (EDSN).
Below was his press release:
One of the most exciting developments, we are currently working on, is a project we call the Econet Disease Surveillance Network. It is very similar to our award winning, Energize the Chain project. Both these projects were not designed to generate income, but to show that we can use our business, to help our communities.
Our research and development team, working with partners in America, have developed a test kit, which we can install at any rural clinic, or hospital. A blood sample, through a simple finger prick, is taken, and placed on a cartridge containing a strip of absorbent paper impregnated with antibodies. If the person has an infection, the paper changes colour. The paper is then photographed using a simple cell phone camera, supplied as part of the kit. The picture of the sample is beamed over our network, to a special computer, which processes it, and provides a diagnosis, which is sent back to the remote clinic, in a matter of seconds, by SMS. The computer also collates the data, to enable public health officials, to know the spread of diseases, in the country.
So, far we have the capacity to test for 5 diseases: malaria, HIV, dengue, influenza and hepatitis B. The test kit, not only enables thousands of people to be tested, and treated, but it also allows governments, to be able to monitor the movement real time of any of these diseases, enabling them to react quickly to major outbreaks.
We are currently testing this system, and it is our hope to eventually get such systems installed in every African country. Our team is led by Dr. Precious Lunga, a medical specialist, who joined our team to lead our health initiatives.
My vision however is that within 10 years, people will be testing themselves for diseases, using their cell phones…
Just add a little innovation, to what you do best.
38 Replies to “Strive Masiyiwa Launches Econet Disease Surveillance Network (EDSN)”
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Our President!!!!!!!!!!!!!Annointed of God!!!!
Ichokwadi vaMASIIWA munogona. Concidering that your projects start at home. It shows u realy love your country. I suggest u remain focused, watchful and alert. People will always be people. Just as your scholarships it will succeed. Min of higher education should learn from such happenings. I could not understand it when the local institutes withhold certificates for graduates on cadet, giving them copies of transcripts that have no credebility at all. Why cant they give them proper transcripts and withold certificates. Considering there a no jobs some will get them after 10years. As i said start with your country those being funded to SA by president are getting all their papers are they realy desparate as those on cadet. Mr Masiwa man of God we will pray with u on this project to bring health to all zimbabweans
may God bless you, you are such an innovative man, keep on the standard pliz
Arise Africa arise.May,The almighty Lord bless you abundantly Mr Masiyiwa.
thank u Strive
Kwete mbavha dzeZANU dzauraya nyika neku looter. I cannot see the works of a true son of the soil. God bless you strive
Strive well done. God has invested in you great things
You are the man sent from God,n He has given the nations for ur inheritence. God bless you sir,Jesus is Lord.
Hardworking, selfless, incorruptable and down to earth individual, transparent track record, and commands respect from most progressive Zimbabweans. Would be the first to nominate him for Zimbabwean presidency.
dai pakawanikwa vashanu vakaita saMasiiwa
Well done Mr Masiwa, may God bless you
This is a very interesting development, Mr. Masiiwa. We would like to participate in this roll-out.
Please advise how we can become part of this programme, as we are in the Diagnosis Industry already, with lots of experience.
BLESSED IS THE HAND THAT GIVES,
Betty, just shut up, come with your own advice, why are you copying this comment from other pages? i always see this comment on Sowetan, woza lowakho umbono uyeke ukutshontsha imibono yabanye abantu.
ukangowanza mapromotions lyc telecel unenge wave dhara
This is an exciting platform that will help our underserved communities. My wish is just this platform will not be hijacked and those who should genuinely benefit will not be left in the open or be made to pay by health workers. More community health education should be done once this is operationalised.
Strive has a Calling indeed! May God continue toeenlarge his boarders.
Even if it is for cash, this is a good thing for rapid diagnosis. He makes his money through the use of his network. Clever businessman with a vison.
akati ndezvamahara ndiani, arikuda mari chete uyu
welldone Mr Masiyiwa. Brilliant rather than this looters busy fattening their stomachs with our diamonds behind the liberation war finger. Dzidzai vaObert “looter” Mpofu
who said the service will be free or cheap,
The LORD bless you.
U hv ppl @ heart not just money money and corruption lyk what others do. I salute u Strive.
may the good lord continue to use you in humble ways to change the facial expressions of mankind.to brink a smile where there is a tear and also bringing hope to the hopeless.you are 1 in a million.God bless you.you have a soft heart for those in pain
Well done Mr Masiyiwa you are a true Zimbabwean . Actions speak louder than words. 21st technology is what we need , with the help of other developed nations.
Everything works for the best to those who fear God. Let Him lead
Strive is really doing a lot unlike the bunch of thieves manning the economy.
This is real innovation, its more like minded people like Mr Strive we want for the development of our nation and the world at large. Keep up the great works Strive we are also learning from you as our role model.
May the good lord bless you , we need people like you in Zimbabwe not these thieves calling themselves our liberators(politicians).
@tls i nw gt enu4 rsn 2 b a doc n’w knoz mayb i mit b able 2 join e EDSN team……
VeZanu vachamulighter manje manje, they try to stall his inovativeness, Econet make sure u register with the ministry of health, u have the necessary paperwork to do want u are doing, but please dont bribe them to get these! these matter should remain private and confidential ,patient/ doctor protocols should be observed
Other wise keep up with the good work, wish we had more of you in our country, we will be miles away in technology!
May the good lord bless u more!
Priorities put right!! Ko Zanu muripiko-oo!! Kopai zvakana ivo kwete kungoswera muchinodaidza mazhingaz vana vevhu vachikwanisa basa zvakanaka, nemari yavo fiti!!
What about Masisiwa for Presidency?!!!
Zimbabwe paWorld map nga!!
God bless you Mr Strive you a wonderful man i hope guys like Obert “looting” mpofu will learn from you
kuna VaMasiiwa rambai makadaro.ndimi mudiwa manje kusimudzira nyika.may lord be wth u
This is what we want in Zimbabwe. Kwete vanhu vanoita mari necorruption and after that they say bring the evidence. Unfortunately Masiyiwa can not set his foot in his country of birth because the corrupt government in Zimbabwe will acuse him of corruption without asking for evidence from the povo as they do in other cases.
To whom much is given, more is expected. Thank you very much Mr. Strive Masiyiwa. In you, heaven made a great investment!
You such an Inspiration Strive
GOOD ADVICE: Do something for yourself. Don’t waste your time talking politics while others are enjoying their lives with money without politics. See how this South Zimbabwean poor woman became a millionaire just by buying and selling solar panels to the people in rural areas/villages so they can have electricity easily and very cheaply. Very interesting. Go to SOLARTECH.CO ,not dot com or dot zw, to see the methods and companies she was dealing with. SOLARTECH.CO ,not dot com or dot zw. Just do CO . Wake up Africans