We are a multidiciplinary team working on an impactful project as part of the International Entrepreneurship & Development minor at Delft University of Technology. Our team, consisting of Janneke Lombaers, Laura Marini and Rosalie Fritz, is dedicated to making a difference in the accessibility of healthcare in low-resource settings.
In collaboration with Layco Medical Devices, a socially responsible company based in Amsterdam, we are embarking on our project in Uganda. Layco Medical Devices shares our commitment to improving healthcare and reducing our carbon footprint. They design and distribute high-quality reusable medical devices that are not only cost-effective, but also easy to maintain and repair.
Our focus in Uganda is on Layco's innovative product, the vela® vacuum extractor. This device has been specially developed for resource-poor environments, with affordability, reusability and ease of use at its core. In sub-Saharan Africa, vacuum extraction is used in less than 1% of all deliveries, in stark contrast to the 7% usage rate in the Netherlands. However, research in Uganda has shown that even a small increase in the use of vacuum extraction, ranging from 0.6% to 2.4%, can lead to a remarkable 23.6% reduction in stillbirths. With vela®, Layco Medical Devices aims to bridge this gap and make vacuum extraction more accessible.
For three months, from November to January, we will be in Uganda to explore the market potential for vacuum extraction. We will engage with gynaecologists, midwives, nurses, hospital CEOs and other stakeholders involved in the procurement and usage processes. Through these conversations, we will gain insights into the needs, challenges and opportunities around vacuum extraction in Uganda. Our ultimate goal is to pave the way for the introduction of vela® in local hospitals and contribute to the overall improvement of healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa.
