Diagnostics, capacity building & implementation actions for improved healthcare in Africa (HOLICARE)

We aim to address patient management and epidemic surveillance challenges in sub-Saharan Africa by converging four fit-for-purpose pillars: (1) innovative diagnostics, (2) capacity building, (3) enhancing human capital potential, and (4) adoption and implementation through stakeholder engagement.

Poverty-Related Diseases in sub-Saharan Africa are a major threat in healthcare. Diagnostics performance, affordability, manufacturability and deployment are main challenges. HOLICARE aims to tackle them from a holistic perspective. We will use respiratory infections as a blueprint for our new approach due to their huge clinical and socioeconomic impact. We propose a 2-tiered, digitally interfaced diagnostic approach starting in the field using multiplexed lateral flow tests for triage, followed by a referral to hospital for detailed diagnosis on a POC-Instrument performing nucleic acid amplification (LAMP) for pathogen identification and immunoassays for host biomarker quantitation. Digital and manufacturing infrastructures will encompass these innovations to ensure future local product development. Quality controlled biobanks will be developed for executing reliable clinical studies. Human capital investment will be achieved through focused, high-level training activities. Adoption and implementation activities will enhance the deployment of the proposed diagnostic solutions. Our developments are scalable, adaptable and transferrable to other diseases and national (eco)systems.

Holistic approach to disease screening: HOLICARE. Source: KTH, Sweden

The four main action pillars of HOLICARE. Source: KTH, Sweden

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