When Vision Fades: Navigating “Blindness” during Your Healthcare Entrepreneurship Journey in Africa

Hamza Asumah, MD, MBA

When it comes to entrepreneurship, a clear vision is of utmost importance. But what happens when this vision fades or becomes clouded? This concern is even more profound if you are a healthcare entrepreneur in Africa, a continent with unique healthcare needs and challenges. 

This blog post will explore the metaphorical blindness that entrepreneurs can face during their journey, how to navigate it, and some practical examples from the African healthcare entrepreneurship landscape.

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The African Healthcare Landscape

The healthcare sector in Africa presents a vast array of opportunities. Yet, it also poses significant challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa bears 23% of the global disease burden but has access to only 1% of world health expenditure and 3% of the world’s health workers. 

Entrepreneurs stepping into this landscape must grapple with these stark realities, and sometimes, the magnitude of these challenges can lead to a loss of vision or metaphorical blindness.

Metaphorical Blindness in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurial blindness is a state where an entrepreneur loses sight of their initial vision due to overwhelming challenges or changes in the business environment. It can manifest in various forms such as losing track of the business’s core purpose, inability to adapt to market changes, or failing to see emerging opportunities.

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Navigating “Blindness”: Principles & Strategies

1. Stay Rooted in Your Purpose

Entrepreneurs should always remind themselves of their core purpose. For healthcare entrepreneurs in Africa, this purpose can be to bridge the healthcare gap, improve access to quality healthcare, or innovate affordable healthcare solutions. 

For instance, Dr. Precious Lunga, CEO, and Co-founder of Baobab Circle, a health tech company in Africa, faced numerous challenges while providing AI health solutions to millions of Africans. Despite the hurdles, she stayed rooted in her purpose of leveraging technology to promote health education and management.

2. Embrace Adaptability

Conditions in African economies can change swiftly, and entrepreneurs should be ready to adapt. Dr. William Mapham, the founder of Vula Mobile, an app that connects primary healthcare workers in remote areas with specialists, had to pivot his initial idea multiple times to suit market needs and regulatory constraints[^3^]. 

3. Foster Collaborations

Collaborations can help entrepreneurs gain a fresh perspective, access resources, and reach wider markets. Take the example of LifeBank, a Nigerian start-up that delivers blood, oxygen, and other medical products to hospitals in Nigeria and Kenya. Founder Temie Giwa-Tubosun forged partnerships with governments, hospitals, and logistics companies to make this happen.

4. Ongoing Research and Learning

In the face of blindness, knowledge is power. Entrepreneurs should continuously learn about industry trends, customer needs, and policy changes. They should also keep an eye on successful models across the world and learn from them. 

5. Seek and Give Support

Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly from mentorship and peer support. Organizations like the African Healthcare Entrepreneurs Network (AHEN) provide a platform for healthcare entrepreneurs to share experiences, learn from each other, and collaborate.

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The healthcare entrepreneurial journey in Africa, steeped in history and influenced by unique challenges, is not for the faint-hearted. But with a clear vision, adaptability, understanding of the cultural and historical context, and a commitment to serving the community, entrepreneurs can navigate the metaphorical blindness that may occur along the way, crafting solutions that transform the healthcare landscape in Africa.

Please leave your insights in the comment section below.