CUT graduates win Cimas Healthathon 3.0 top prize for silicosis screening app

Their winning innovation, an app called SilicaGuard, is designed to facilitate silicosis screening for artisanal miners and improve early detection of the occupational lung disease. The competition, held in Harare, featured ten groups in the finale, selected from 372 submissions across Zimbabwe. Runtime Terrors and BloodGeoAlert secured second and third places, receiving US$2,000 and US$1,500 respectively.

Vulindlela Ndlovu, Cimas Health Group chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges. Projects were judged on their ability to tackle genuine healthcare problems, enhance access, reduce costs, and demonstrate originality. SilicaGuard was recognized for its focus on artisanal miners' health risks through community-based screening, artificial intelligence, referral tracking, and data collection.

Public Health chief director Celestino Dhege, speaking on behalf of Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora, commended the innovation, noting its alignment with the theme "Reimagining Healthcare Through Disruptive Innovation" and current national health demands.