Ethiopia has reached a significant milestone for local healthcare innovation with the official approval of Simbona Africa Healthcare Engineering’s neonatal medical devices by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA). Designed and manufactured locally, the infant radiant warmer and LED phototherapy units are crucial for treating hypothermia and neonatal jaundice in newborns.
This achievement is a major success for the AHRI-GCE Health Innovation Platform, which has supported Simbona for over a decade. As one of the program’s first awardees ten years ago, Simbona received crucial financial and technical support from AHRI-GCE throughout the entire innovation process. This early-stage backing, including funding, technical guidance, and mentorship, was instrumental in transforming their initial idea into fully realized, commercially viable devices that meet world-class standards.
This success demonstrates AHRI-GCE’s long-term commitment to nurturing and commercializing local innovations. It also serves as a powerful motivator for all AHRI-GCE innovators, proving that sustained support, dedication, and local expertise can create lasting impact for newborn health in Ethiopia.