Incidence of heart disease is rising in many low and middle-income countries due to wealthier lifestyles and greater longevity. Cameroon is no exception. According to Cameroon’s Society of Cardiologists, some 30% of the country’s 22 million people suffer from high blood pressure, one of the key contributing factors to heart disease. Yet there are fewer than 50 heart specialists, and most are based in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé, leaving rural areas with virtually no cardiac care.
Arthur Zang’s CardioPad could change that. He has invented what is believed to be Africa’s first medical tablet, which will allow healthcare workers in rural areas to send results of cardiac tests to heart specialists via a mobile phone connection in order to receive expert advice. The CardioPad uses a touchscreen interface adapted to the needs of remote health workers with limited computing experience. Equipped with a battery, it can withstand Cameroon’s frequent power cuts.
Already installed in several hospitals in Cameroon, Zang’s plan is to produce and sell his device for around €2,200 – significantly cheaper than other commercially available, less portable devices. The hope is that it will lower the price of medical examinations and speed up diagnoses.
Gaby is a wildlife documentary producer with broadcast credits on BBC, National Geographic, Discovery and PBS.
Arthur Zang, Inventor