Tanzanian Schools Will Be First in Africa to Provide Health Report Cards, Announces Stufit

On November 6th, MedicoPRESS published my story on acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This was shortly after I joined their medical journalism program.

ARF and RHD are silent but deadly conditions that are plaguing millions of young African hearts. Despite their severity, there is a shocking lack of awareness and action surrounding them.

"We need to actively seek them out (children with recurrent sore throats and ARF symptoms) and prevent them from dying," Dr. Emmy Okello , Chief of Cardiology at the Uganda Heart Institute, emphasized during a webinar on October 9th, attended by yours truly and other African journalists.

This was when I first recognized the significant healthcare divide in Tanzania: should healthcare workers (HCWs) adapt to the needs of the population, or should the population adapt to the availability of HCWs? Can we bring healthcare services directly to the patients? And if so, how?

Tanzania has invested heavily in constructing and equipping primary healthcare facilities (PHCs), yet concerns persist regarding the overall effectiveness of the health system. Are those poly-clinics in your neighborhood, or dispensaries at your grandma's ward, the final frontier of healthcare accessibility?

To achieve universal health coverage (UHC) for both citizens and foreigners in Tanzania, we need a separate or parallel initiative. Prioritizing the well-being of children and adolescents is paramount. This commitment led me to accept a brief meeting on a windy but sunlit Friday afternoon at a Masaki café on October 20th. Amidst the casual atmosphere of pizza and conversation, I found myself facing three gentlemen across the table, my notebook resting on my lap. It allowed for an informal exchange of ideas.

"Our mobile team of 13 medical and paramedical experts conducts thorough examinations of each child," explained explained Dr. Syed Shujat Haider Jafri, the founder of Stufit Group, a venture pioneering the provision of digital health report cards to school-going and college students in Asia (through Stufit Approach Private Limited) and in Africa (through Stufit Africa).

"Our screenings cover over 130 parameters in four Ds: disease, deficiency, disability, and deformity; and take about 60 to 70 minutes per child during the school day," Dr. Shujat continued. Stufit can assess the health of 120 students within an eight-hour timeframe.

I understand the importance of prioritizing care for the most vulnerable groups: wazee, mothers, and newborns as medical doctor Kuduishe Kisowile aptly suggested in a recent article for The Chanzo. However, we must not overlook the health of the yet-to-be-sick population, particularly those who are uninsured and seldom visit hospitals due to their prolonged academic commitments.

Tanzania's school-aged children and adolescents represent about a third of the population. They could benefit from preventive healthcare measures and early intervention strategies. Instead of relying on hospital visits during holidays, children should receive year-round support at their schools, regardless of whether they are public or private.

Parents would undoubtedly welcome periodic checkups for their children during the academic year. However, school administrators may require additional support to implement such a program. Government agencies and organizations should provide this assistance. With startups providing the technological backbone, comprehensive medical care can truly become a team sport.

"Doctors tell me that you can treat 90% of diseases if you catch them early enough," remarked Strive Masiyiwa , the billionaire founder of Econet Group . He further highlighted the alarming reality that "a lot of people in Africa die because they nurse pain and sickness until it is too late."

What have we done so far?

Tanzania is committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As proof, the government allocated $479 million to strengthen the nation's healthcare system in fiscal year 2023/24. That budget surpasses the $439 million and $387.9 million injected in 2022/23 and 2020/21 respectively.

In addition, Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, the country's Director of Health, Social Welfare, and Nutrition Services (DHSWNS), has been a leading advocate for improving healthcare outcomes. On both academic and policy grounds!

The National Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP) for 2021–2026 outlines the government's strategy for improving Tanzanians’ quality of life and human well-being. It includes schemes to strengthen our healthcare system, equip hospitals with modern equipment, and train healthcare providers.

However, as emphasized in the introduction, a fundamental component of realizing UHC is addressing the healthcare needs of Tanzania's largest demographic—its children and young adults.

What else can we do?

An Indian-led startup called Stufit Africa is bridging the gap in healthcare access for Tanzanian children and young adults. Thanks to its commitment to develop the largest digital health record system on the continent.

Tanzania, and Africa as a whole, need a healthcare system that matches the transparency and accessibility of its education system. Parents deserve reliable and comprehensive information about their children's health, just like they have access to their school records or grades.

If Stufit enables 18,500 primary schools and 47 universities to go beyond providing academic report cards, it can contribute to the overall success of Tanzania's UHC agenda.

Here's how Stufit works

The health-tech startup begins with but goes beyond, school-based medical checkup camps. Its approach encompasses various aspects of physical and mental health. Plus, it provides in-depth assessments of dental and oral health, eye and vision, audiometry, speech, endurance and stamina, nutrition, behavior, and learning.

Stufit's assessments aim to detect potential health issues and diseases early on. This allows for timely intervention and treatment. In addition, the startup provides guidance and support to promote healthy lifestyles for school-age children. Thanks to its team of Indian and Tanzanian medical experts.

The student fitness approach to UHC offers important lessons to the government and other healthcare providers. Our institutions must be flexible, catering to various patient needs and preferences. Equal emphasis should be placed on individual assessments (which provide personalized attention) and group assessments, which can efficiently screen key demographics.

Tanzania's public health system could benefit from adopting best practices from health technology enablers like Stufit. The Ministry of Health should seamlessly integrate innovative ideas and solutions from startups into existing healthcare infrastructure and UHC frameworks. You may ask: how can we be confident that this approach will be successful?

Stufit's health screenings are completely non-invasive, ensuring the safety and comfort of patients. "No needles, pricking, medication, or other invasive procedures are used," Dr. Syed Ajaz, a member of Stufit's mobile clinic, stated during the first checkup camp in Dodoma. "Students do not consider us as doctors; instead, they regard us as friends, with whom they play." This health promotion approach has immense implications for maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.

While Stufit's non-invasive approach offers advantages, it also limits its ability to provide comprehensive diagnoses and treatments. Addressing this gap could be an opportunity for another startup to emerge as a leader in the healthcare industry

During our early years at Mingas Primary School, my friends and I disliked the mandatory blood tests administered almost every Sunday. A non-invasive approach would have been more acceptable and comfortable for us.

Stufit's team of qualified health professionals, including medical officers, optometrists, and dentists, ensures accurate and reliable 'health report cards’. Perhaps most importantly, the Stufit approach has the potential to unlock new data that is currently hidden in hard-to-reach schools and communities.

The program's structure ensures it can be supported by the government, parents, and school owners. Why? It starts with an orientation and health seminar for parents and teachers, followed by student registration and rigorous health screenings. Personalized health report cards, one-on-one interactions, and ongoing follow-up ensure students receive the necessary support. Finally, school health groups empower students to own their health and promote healthy lifestyles.

What lies ahead?

In October, Stufit Africa partnered with the Pediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT) to screen 300 pupils at Brother Martin Primary School. Doctors identified several health challenges after examining children. These included finding objects in the ears, overweight and underweight, vision problems, hearing problems, and infections in the throat.

Stufit's next stop is the Coast region, where they will conduct health screenings at eight primary schools. Four of these schools are government-owned, two are run by Christian denominations, and the remaining two are Islamic schools.

"It's not just a checkup. We give proper next steps," Stufit Africa CEO Mehdi Surani told Atoms & Bits, emphasizing the importance of parental follow-up. "We're just screening a child, we're not diagnosing or treating."

Stufit's data is organized by age groups from various schools and can provide valuable insights for government policymaking. Despite this potential, the health-tech prioritizes data security and confidentiality, assuring me that they will never sell students' information. Online access to students' health records will be restricted to authorized school personnel and parents.

"There isn't a single school in Africa or Asia that offers any type of health report card to its students," Dr. Shujat declared with unwavering conviction. "We are the very first who is going to provide that card to all school-going and college students."

The two are Islamic schools.