Cape Town, South Africa – Innovation Edge is excited to announce a joint initiative with Reconstructed Living Labs NPC (RLabs) and Innov8 Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd. The Hlola EmpowerCare Initiative is funded by the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) Innovation Fund, a grant initiative led by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), under the auspices of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and administered by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Hlola EmpowerCare aims to empower young South African doctors to become micro-entrepreneurs in healthcare.
Recruitment of doctors for the programme is open until 30 June 2025, focusing on identifying young, post-community service doctors who are currently unemployed, doing locum work, or underemployed.
Through this initiative, 300 medical doctors will be equipped with U-Image, an innovative point-of-care ultrasound solution (POCUS) developed by Innov8 Group Holdings and its subsidiaries. U-Image includes a locally developed ultrasound device, image storage software, bespoke clinical training, and certification.
The training will equip doctors with skills they need to diagnose and treat the most common diseases and conditions requiring bedside ultrasound, with a strong focus on first trimester scans for expectant mothers. Once trained, doctors will deliver these services through established private GP practices, clinics, and their own new patients, bringing quality care closer to communities who need it the most.
Access to ultrasound for pregnant women in the public health system is extremely limited, with many clinics lacking equipment or trained professionals. This is critical in a country where infant and child mortality rates remain high. In 2022, the Medical Research Council estimated that 30 out of every 1,000 infants born alive in South Africa did not survive their first year, while the under-five mortality rate rose from 29 per 1,000 in 2020 to 40 in 2022. Premature births and delivery complications remain major contributors, with limited antenatal care reducing chances for early intervention.
“As an innovation-led healthcare holding business focused on re-engineering care delivery and point-of-care solutions, Innov8 Group Holdings – through Innohealth Technologies – will drive the execution of this initiative,” says Dr Chad Marthinussen, Founder and CEO of Innov8 Group Holdings and its subsidiaries.
“We’ll supply the tools, recruit and match 300 young doctors with established care pathways, and equip them with our virtual care platform MypocketHealth, home-grown POCUS hardware and training, certification and commercial-skills programme. By enabling these clinicians to launch their own hybrid micro-enterprises, we’ll dramatically widen South Africa’s primary care footprint and create a sustainable engine for better patient access and outcomes.”
Further Training to Lead Lasting Change in Healthcare
In addition to bespoke POCUS training, participants will receive business management and development training to help them establish and run their own medical practices.
“We believe in the power of equipping young doctors not just with skills, but with the tools to lead. This initiative empowers them to serve where the need is greatest, while also building sustainable futures for themselves and their communities,” says Marlon Parker, Founder of RLabs.
This initiative addresses immediate and long-term healthcare challenges by improving access to ultrasound scans for early detection of complications. It also builds a sustainable network of young doctors with diagnostic and business skills, enhancing healthcare access in underserved communities and contributing to better maternal and child health, while creating ongoing economic opportunities.
“As an impact-first investor that aims to empower entrepreneurs to solve early childhood challenges, supporting young doctors who want to make a difference is a natural fit for Innovation Edge. Our role in this project includes ensuring market access and monitoring and evaluation, which will be critical in scaling the impact of this initiative and driving sustainable improvements in maternal and child health outcomes,” says Gilbert Anyetei, Investment Principal at Innovation Edge.
This partnership is a transformative step toward strengthening South Africa’s healthcare system – empowering doctors, expanding access to antenatal care, and ultimately contributing to improving early childhood outcomes to give children the strongest start in life.
Click here to learn more and apply to join the Hlola EmpowerCare Initiative.
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