DOB Equity, Launch Africa and Founders Factory Africa have invested in Zuri Health, the digital healthcare company which provides affordable healthcare via mobile.

Zuri Health plans to use the investment into further building out its digital platform, growing its product offerings and launching operations in new markets.

This has also been made possible with additional investments from V8 Capital, Platform Capital, Villgro Africa, Asime Ventures, and the Salik Family Trust.

Saskia van der Mast, Co-CEO of DOB Equity, said: “We are excited to support the growth of Zuri Health as it builds an innovative and scalable platform that will enable access to healthcare for millions of rural and urban communities.”

As part of Platform Capital’s investment in this round, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, Chairman of Platform Capital will also be joining the advisory board.

Zuri Health connects mass-market patients with affordable, convenient, and quality healthcare services via SMS, WhatsApp and a dedicated app.

The company initially launched in Kenya in January 2021 but is now present in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Zuri Health has so far partnered with 16+ major mobile network operators in seven countries with over 400,000 SMS subscribers, over 300 doctors, 27 lab and diagnostic centres and 15 pharmacies across its markets.

Ikechukwu Anoke, CEO and Founder of Zuri Health, said: “We are driven by the impact our service could have —to be a solution to Africa’s lack of sufficient healthcare. Healthcare infrastructure in most parts of Africa is grossly inadequate, with painfully high doctor-patient ratios."

"There are many Africans who cannot afford healthcare services or who live too far away from healthcare facilities. And with skilled healthcare workers increasingly leaving Africa for greener pastures, the situation is worsening.”

“We have a burning desire to democratise healthcare access and harness the power of technology to provide quality, first-tier medical services.”

Efforts to scale quality healthcare services affordably remain a challenge across Africa.

The World Economic Forum reports that the continent bears 25% of the world’s disease burden but only has 2% of the world’s doctors.

Zachariah George, Managing Partner at Launch Africa, comments: “Zuri Health shows tremendous potential to scale across the continent and democratise access to healthcare. We truly believe in Anoke and Isiaho’s abilities to lead the path in the HealthTech sector in Africa.”.

Bongani Sithole, Managing Director at Founders Factory Africa, said: “Founders Factory Africa is honoured to be a part of backing the Zuri Health Team’s ambitious mission of addressing critical gaps in Africa’s healthcare systems.”