Mamaope: the Medical smart jacket that tackles misdiagnosis of pneumonia

Young Ugandan Brian Turyabagye, invented a biochemical smart jacket, called Mamaope, which detects pneumonia 3 to 4 times faster than the orthodox doctors’ detection. 

In Sub-Saharan Africa, pneumonia kills half a million children aged five and below every year; this accounts for half of all global deaths of children under five from pneumonia (UNICEF). Unfortunately, not enough attention is given for its prevention. To solve this issue, young Ugandan Brian Turyabagye, invented “Mamaope” (or “Mother’s hope”), in tribute to the 27,000 Ugandan kids that lose their fight to Pneumonia yearly in Uganda.

The motivation to create Mamaope

Brian Turyabagye was studying engineering when his friend’s grandmother fell seriously ill. Accompanying her to hospital, he watched as doctors diagnosed malaria and prescribing various treatments accordingly. Only as she lay dying did they realise their initial diagnosis was wrong. It was pneumonia that was killing her.  Brian found out the hard truth that his friend’s grandmother was just one of thousands who die yearly from pneumonia–their deaths largely caused by misdiagnosis.

The biochemical smart jacket

Still a prototype, the biochemical smart jacket will solve one problem: misdiagnosis.  Once it becomes certified for use in health centres and hospitals, the amount of kids who die due to misdiagnosis will considerably be reduced.

Turyabagye’s, life-saving invention, was shortlisted for 2017, £25,000 Africa prize for engineering innovation.

 

If  Turyabagye manages to distribute the jacket in Uganda and neighbouring countries, this could save a lot of people.