Problem being addressed
Women during childbearing years are particularly susceptible to anemia. There are an estimated 100,000 maternal and 600,000 newborn deaths a year due to the blood disorder, with millions more affected. Thus far, it has been difficult to influentially screen for anemia in developing countries because it requires individual testing, a process that is time consuming and unrealistic in low-resource facilities.
Detailed description of the solution
The Hemoglobe is an inexpensive phone attachment that transforms rural health workers’ phones into non-invasive and prick-free hemoglobinometers. They automatically relay hemoglobin results to a central server in order to map out anemia prevalence and where help is needed most, geographically. This allows for community-based screening and anemia awareness in areas with high prevalence.
Designed by
- Designed by: Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design
- Manufacturer location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
When and where it was tested/implemented
2011-2012, Kenya
Funding Source
Johns Hopkins University, Finalist in Saving Lives at Birth Competition
References
Other internally generated reports
Johns Hopkins University. (July 24 2012). Undergraduates’ Cellphone Screening Device for Anemia Wins $250,000 Prize. Retrieved November 13 2013 from here.
Externally generated reports
Saving Lives at Birth. (August 6 2012). HemoGlobe: Revitalizing Maternal Anemia Prevention and Treatment Globally. Retrieved November 13 2013 from here.