Founders, researchers, healthcare professionals, investors, policymakers, and students gathered in Accra from June 4–6 for the Africa Health Collaborative Health Innovation Festival 2026 (HI Fest 2026). The convening focused on advancing solutions to improve health outcomes across Africa.
The festival was held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel under the theme “Innovate Africa’s Health Forward.” It brought together participants from across the Africa Health Collaborative network to share ideas, test solutions, and examine what it takes to move health innovations from concept to implementation.
A central message from the festival was that successful health innovation begins with a clear understanding of real-world healthcare challenges. Across panel discussions and breakout sessions, clinicians emphasized the need for solutions that fit naturally into existing healthcare workflows, reduce burdens on healthcare workers, and respond to the realities faced by patients and providers.
The ventures that stood out during the festival’s pitch competition reflected this focus on practical problem-solving. In the early-stage category, Kaaraange from AMREF Health Africa won first prize for a smart biomedical waste bin. The innovation uses cameras and sensors to automatically sort waste at the source, addressing a critical healthcare safety challenge. In the idea-stage category, HerbIma from Addis Ababa University was recognized for Iron+, an iron supplement made from Ethiopian Red Teff. Iron+ aims to improve iron intake while reducing the gastrointestinal side effects often associated with supplementation. Both solutions demonstrated how locally relevant challenges can inspire context-appropriate innovation.
