Village Reach & VidaGas in Mozambique

VillageReach’s model improves access to healthcare by providing a logistics platform to facilitate delivery of medical supplies and by starting and managing social businesses to improve local infrastructure.

Creation of social businesses to fill critical infrastructure gaps is a fundamental part of VillageReach’s model. VidaGas is VillageReach’s pilot social business program that fills the requirement for safe, clean, affordable energy with broad market appeal. In 2002, VillageReach and its local partner, Mozambique Foundation for Community Development (FDC), established VidaGas to provide critical propane fuel services to rural health centers operated by the Mozambique Ministry of Health.

• Largest volume propane provider in northern Mozambique with an annual delivery of approximately 300 tons
• Supplies more than 260 remote health centers supporting a population of approximately 5 million
• A reliable and profitable market supplier, reaching an expanding customer base of households and businesses including hospitality, tourism and light industry
• Recognized by the World Bank Development Marketplace and UNDP World Business Award

U.S.-Africa Private Sector Health Forum - Nov 21st - 22nd DC

The 2008 U.S.-Africa Private Sector Health Forum will focus on opportunities for private sector investment in health care and delivery in Africa, including medical franchising, leveraged partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, risk pooling and health insurance, policy and regulatory incentives, human capacity development and social entrepreneurship.

Medical Advances—Through Your mobile phone?

BusinessWeek ran an interesting article about utilizing Smart phones to provide high-end medical diagnostics at a fraction of their costs. This piece ran back in April.

Medical Advances—Through Your mobile phone?

Researchers are beginning to understand how mobile phones can cut costs, help solve rural health-care problems, and even reduce medical errors.

Despite all the advances in medical diagnostics, two-thirds of the world's population has no access to imaging technologies. Worse, about half of the imaging equipment sent to developing countries goes unused because local technicians aren't trained to operate it or lack spare parts, according to the World Health Organization. But thanks to the proliferation of cellular and other wireless networks, researchers are stepping up efforts to deliver crucial medical services from afar.