Table 1 Health technology stagnation in sub-Saharan Africa
Technology | Description of technology (according to the scientist)* | Health area of application | Country / Institution | Status (according to the scientist) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional plant technologies | |||||
1 | Artemisinin/lemon grass combination | A beverage that is used to treat malaria. | Malaria | Uganda- Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory | Ready for commercialization, but not yet commercialized. Undergoing clinical trials in northern Uganda |
2 | Nibima- Extract of traditional plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta | Whole plant extract for the management of malaria | Malaria | Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, in Mampong, Ghana http://www.asnapp.org/ | Needs validation through clinical trials |
3 | Neem tree | Extract from the Neem plant | Malaria | Kenya-ICIPE http://www.icipe.org | Scientist has no plans to commercialize. Needs validation through clinical trials. |
4 | Neem tree | Extract from the Neem plant | Malaria | Rwanda-IRST http://www.irst.ac.rw/ | Scientist was unsure how to commercialize. Needs validation through clinical trials. |
5 | Whole plant extract | Whole plant extract | Malaria | University of Lagos http://www.unilag.edu.ng/index.php?page=home | Scientist was unsure how to commercialize. Needs validation though clinical trials. |
6 | Tanzed Plus | Whole plant extract for the management of HIV | HIV/AIDS management | Tanzania-Muhimbili University of Health and Applied Sciences http://www.muchs.ac.tz | Needs validation through clinical trials |
7 | Sunguprot | Extract of the root of Tylosema Fassoglensis mixed with soya beans-Nutritional supplement that acts as an immune booster. | HIV/AIDS management | Kenya-KIRDI http://www.kirdi.go.ke/ | Needs validation through clinical trials |
8 | Morsella | A mixture of Moringa oleifera and hibiscus sabdariffa. Nutritional supplement that acts as an immune booster. | HIV/AIDS management | Tanzania –MUHAS http://www.muchs.ac.tz/ | Needs validation through clinical trials |
9 | Plants extract | Treatment for opportunistic infections of HIV | Kaposi’s Sarcoma | Kenya-KEMRI http://www.kemri.org | Applied for patenting. Looking for commercial investor. |
10 | Whole plant extract | Treatment of Fibroids in women | Fibroids | Kenya- Moi University http://www.mu.ac.ke/ | It is undergoing tests in humans in the form of pill formulations (Phase 1 clinical trials) |
11 | Plant extract | Has anti-sickling properties which are attributed to its ability to prolong or delay the time to polymerization of deoxy-Hb | Sickle cell anemia management | Nigeria-NIPRD http://www.niprd.org/ | Orphan drug status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA) in 2005. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-137075135.htmlLimited commercialization but failed to scale up because of business failure. |
12 | Anti-Hepatocyte | Plant derivative-A treatment of liver infections especially liver cirrhosis | Liver ailments | Tanzania-NIMR http://www.nimr.or.tz/ | Scientist was unsure how to commercialize. Needs validation though clinical trials. |
13 | Aloe vera derivatives | Skin ointment | Skin ailments | Tanzania –MUHAS http://www.muchs.ac.tz/ | Needs validation through clinical trials |
14 | Aloe vera derivatives | Skin ointment | Skin ailments | Rwanda-IRST http://www.irst.ac.rw/ | Scientist was unsure how to commercialize. Needs validation through clinical trials. |
15 | Plant extract | Prevents the effects of radiation during x-ray's hence preventing cancers | Anti-radiation | Nigeria-University of Ibadan | Scientist was unsure how to commercialize. Needs validation through clinical trials. |
16 | Mondia Tonic | Root of mondia whytei | Anti-depressant | Kenya-ICIPE http://www.icipe.org | Partly commercialized. Needs validation through clinical trials to scale up commercialization. |
Diagnostics | |||||
17 | Monoclonal antibody test for detection of malaria | A dipstick that uses antibody antigen reactions to detect presence of malaria parasites in the body by testing urine | Malaria | Ghana-University of Ghana http://www.ug.edu.gh/ | Still being developed. Has received funds from the Gates foundation to explore the concept further. |
18 | Monoclonal antibody test for detection of Schistosomiasis | Rapid visually read monoclonal antibody (MoAb) based dipstick | Schistosomiasis | Ghana- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research http://www.noguchimedres.org/ | Scientist has not attempted to commercialize. Ready for commercialization. |
19 | ELISA | A quick test for identifying MDR TB in sputum | Tuberculosis | Uganda-Makerere University http://mak.ac.ug/ | No incentive to commercialize hence no product form developed. |
Medical equipment and associated health technologies | |||||
20 | Medical waste incinerator | A fuel free medical waste incinerator. Suitable for destruction of plastics. Uses medical waste as fuel by generating very hot gases. | Medical waste | Uganda-Makerere University http://mak.ac.ug/ | WHO approved. Commercialized but needs scaling up. |
21 | Female sanitary towels | Sanitary towels developed from lemon grass. Cost ¼ of conventional sanitary towels and suitable for school girls | Sanitary towels | Uganda-Makerere University http://mak.ac.ug/ | The test was undergoing more evaluation. |
22 | Insect repellant | Use of human odors to repel malaria causing mosquitoes | Malaria | Kenya-ICIPE http://www.icipe.org | Patented-Ready for commercialization but formulation not developed. |
23 | Insect repellant | Plant extract | Malaria | Tanzania-NIMR http://www.nimr.or.tz | Needs validation through clinical trials. |
24 | TBCide | Disinfectant. Standardized chlorine based decontaminant used to destroy MDR TB. | Tuberculosis. resistant bacteria on surfaces bacteria from hospital surfaces. | Kenya-KEMRI http://www.kemri.org | Patented-Ready for commercial exploitation |
25 | Alternative methodology to extract and purify Artemisinin | To prepare derivatives or combine it with other anti-malarials to combat Artemisinin resistance | Malaria | Tanzania-NIMR http://www.nimr.or.tz | Needs extraction equipment and equipment for further validation |