In its ongoing quest to enhance healthcare innovation and promote cardiovascular care in Rwanda, Lifesten conducted the Kigali Cardiovascular Challenge (CV) for the past six months. A significant milestone in the project was achieved through a recent Mid-Year Project Dissemination Forum. This forum, featuring key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Center, provided an invaluable platform for sharing progress, addressing challenges, and charting the way forward.
Key Highlights from the Mid-Year Project Dissemination:
Lifesten Health – Summary of Kigali Cardiovascular Health Challenge
Lifesten Health is at the forefront of innovative health and wellness solutions, dedicated to improving the overall well-being of individuals. The Kigali Cardiovascular Health Challenge as implemented by Lifesten Health, has seen remarkable progress in promoting cardiovascular health awareness and screening through cutting-edge technology. Supported by the Novartis Foundation and endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, and the Ministry of ICT, this initiative has made a significant impact on the community’s health outcomes. The forum which was attended also by other startups served as a learning point for startups as well on how to navigate the various challenges that we faced especially the policy facing challenges.
Project Overview: The Kigali Cardiovascular Health Challenge aimed to bring cardiovascular health education and screening services to the residents of Rwanda, particularly within Kigali City. Leveraging advanced technology, the project introduced remote no-contract screening through the Lifesten Health app, making it accessible to a broader audience. The project persona, “Jeane,” represented the target demographic—a busy individual eager to improve health but lacking the necessary resources and incentives.
Key Accomplishments: As of July 2023, the project achieved major milestones, with over 16,486 people reached and screened through community engagements. Online activities, including a poetry contest and video content, reached over 7,000 individuals, fostering awareness on cardiovascular health. Additionally, 512 individuals testing the remote cardiovascular health testing through the Lifesten app as beta testers, further enhancing the project’s reach and impact.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Lifesten Health has successfully formalized partnerships with prominent government institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, City of Kigali, and the Ministry of ICT. These collaborations have expanded the project’s scope and allowed seamless integration with local health facilities for referrals and screenings.
Technology Advancements: Lifesten Health stands out as the 2nd company in the continent and the first in Rwanda to integrate transdermal optical technology for public use. The gamified point system incentivized health and wellness platform through the Lifesten app has empowered users to adopt healthier lifestyles. The app integrates with various wearables, enhancing health data collection and insights.
Community Engagement and Challenges: Lifesten Health has faced challenges related to internet strength and stability, app accessibility offline, and unclear application procedures during the approval processes. Lifesten is among the first Healthtech startups to go through the full data approval processes in Rwanda and has been working with the ministry to create new policies and procedures, what this has meant is a slower approval process for Lifesten. However, Lifesten Health proactively addressed these issues, developing a new SDK for remote screening, ensuring offline functionality, and proposing to policy makers an online platform for streamlined applications.
Future Roadmap and Sustainability: The project’s next roadmap focuses on community engagement, education, and screenings. The app will be fully functional, targeting the screening of 75,000 individuals and collaborating with 30 health and wellness providers. To ensure sustainability, Lifesten Health will activate premium subscription packages for individuals, workplaces, third-party partners, and governmental programs.
Acknowledgments: Lifesten Health extends heartfelt gratitude to the Novartis Foundation for their generous support and belief in the project’s potential. The coordination and implementation of the project were made possible through the invaluable contributions of the Health Tech Hub and PWC. Special thanks to the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of ICT, and the Health Tech Hub for their guidance and support throughout the project.
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