Damu-Sasa, a Kenyan e-health startup has secured US$20,000 from Villgro Africa to enable it contribute its quota in minimizing the spread of Covid-19.
Damu-Sasa operates an innovative functional solution in blood service information management.
Speaking on the secured funding from Villgro Africa, Dr Matunda Nyanchama, Executive Chairman at Damu-Sasa said:
“At Damu-Sasa, we are really excited with this partnership because it will help us address key concerns occasioned by the pandemic, improve potential blood donor numbers and hence help alleviate, to the degree possible, the perennial blood shortages,”
The startup supports Kenyan hospitals by sourcing blood donations, while also assisting in blood screening, blood products preparation and inventory as well as management of blood transfusion.
The model operated Damu-Sasa also supports the mobilization of blood donors while also providing them with their donation history via digital access.
The startup team up with Kenyan hospitals and other related partners to increase voluntary donations across Kenya’s population.
The aim is to deliver a sufficient supply of safe blood while also improving blood tracking in the country.
From one hospital in one city, the e-health startup has expanded to 132 hospitals across the country.
To date, the startup has executed more than 9,000 blood transfusions and has recorded more than 72,000 registered blood donors.
Currently, the Dam-Sasa plans to grow its numbers by increasing its presence across all healthcare facilities in Kenya. The startup has also launched its Damu-Sasa Android app.
This development would be enhanced by its recently secured fund from Villgro Africa, an early-stage business incubator that provides funding to startups providing innovative solutions in the healthcare sector.
Villgro Africa has supported more than 20 enterprises through its seed funding initiative that has totalled US$1 million.
Also in its effort to ensure steady combat against Covid-19 pandemic, Villgro Africa has supported 11 startups with seed funding to help Kenya’s health system.
Rob Beyer, co-founder and executive chair of Villgro Africa.“Villgro Africa is thrilled to support the work of the Damu-Sasa team, they are a young and vibrant company who are committed to solving this real challenge.
Working alongside Innovative Canadians for Change (ICChange), we look forward to being a part of their efforts in managing safe and efficient blood donations in Kenya, and doing so using a sustainable model,”
Asidesfrom the funding, Villgro Africa will provide technical support to the Dam-Sasa team to enable it carry out its Covid-19 blood management strategies successfully.
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