28/02/2026
At Sankalp Africa 2026, through the African Women Innovating in Healthcare (AWIIH) programme by Villgro Africa, our CEO Faith Wanjeri had the opportunity to spotlight a critical gap in African healthcare.
Chronic pelvic pain is not just discomfort. It often signals underlying gynaecological conditions that may require surgical intervention.
Globally, the standard for such intervention is minimally invasive surgery. In developed countries, up to 94% of these procedures are performed laparoscopically. In sub-Saharan Africa, that number stands at just 0.9%.
That disparity represents more than statistics, it reflects access, training, and systemic inequity.
The Hem Practice was built to address this gap through an end-to-end model: delivering minimally invasive treatment while actively training surgeons to expand regional capacity.
Because improving outcomes for women requires more than awareness. It requires infrastructure.
That disparity represents more than statistics; it reflects access, training, and systemic inequity.