What is the name of your organization?
OCLIYA (Online Clinic Yathu)
What is the name of your solution?
OCLIYA
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
OCLIYA offers accessible, personalized healthcare consultations, exercise and medication refills for people with non communicable diseases in Malawi.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Lilongwe, Malawi
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Malawi
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Malawi, with a population of over 20 million people, is facing a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for more than 40% of all deaths in the country. In 2021, the mortality rate from four major NCDs—cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, and diabetes—was alarmingly high, at 721 deaths per 100,000 males and 523 per 100,000 females. These figures reflect a national health crisis that aligns with global trends.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs were responsible for over 43 million deaths globally in 2021, representing nearly three-quarters of all deaths not related to pandemics. The main risk factors contributing to NCDs are well-established and include tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and exposure to air pollution. These risk factors are consistent worldwide and are equally prevalent in Malawi.
Addressing these shared risk factors is essential to reducing the impact of NCDs both globally and locally. In Malawi, the need for proactive, community-based health interventions targeting these risk areas is urgent. Efforts to educate the public, promote healthy living, and improve access to preventive care are critical steps toward reducing premature deaths and improving long-term population health outcomes.
What is your solution?
At OCLIYA, we are committed to reducing physical inactivity and improving health outcomes through a holistic approach to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Our services include personalized exercise plans, access to high-quality health information on tobacco and alcohol use, and a medication refill and delivery system. By offering tailored exercise routines, users can engage in physical activity that fits their individual needs and health goals, promoting long-term lifestyle changes.
In addition, we provide reliable information on the impact of tobacco and alcohol use, particularly as they relate to the development and progression of NCDs. This empowers individuals to make informed decisions that support their overall well-being.
To ensure consistent treatment and adherence, OCLIYA also offers a medication refill service. Using bicycles and motorbikes, we deliver medications directly to communities, making essential health resources more accessible, especially in underserved areas.
Together, these solutions address key risk factors for NCDs and support healthier living. With NCDs responsible for over 40 million deaths each year globally, our integrated approach offers a practical and impactful way to improve quality of life and reduce the burden of chronic illness in our communities.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our target population is Malawians aged 40 and above living in the urban and semi-urban districts of Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Mzuzu. These cities are experiencing rapid urbanization, which has led to significant challenges in meeting the healthcare needs of their growing populations. As urban migration increases, many individuals are forced to rely on traditional healthcare facilities that are often overwhelmed, understaffed, and under-resourced. This has created a gap in access to timely, consistent, and personalized care—particularly for older adults who are more likely to suffer from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
In these urban centers, long wait times, lack of follow-up, and insufficient health education contribute to poor management of chronic conditions and reduced quality of life. By focusing on this demographic, OCLIYA aims to bridge the healthcare gap with accessible, community-based solutions that prioritize prevention, early intervention, and continuity of care. Our approach ensures that people over 40—who are at higher risk of NCDs—receive the support they need through exercise programs, health education, and medication delivery services. This targeted model is designed to reduce the burden on traditional clinics while improving health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable urban populations in Malawi.
