Submitted
2025 Global Health Challenge

Dawa Mobile Health- Lake Chad

Team Leader
Didier Lalaye
Dawa works on the principle that, when possible, it is better to transport information rather than people. When possible, the exam or sample can be done in the village, transporting the agent and the results rather than the patient. Dawa also operates on the principle of using minimally required resources at each step. For human resources, this means that most...
What is the name of your organization?
Dawa Mobile Health
What is the name of your solution?
Dawa Mobile Health- Lake Chad
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Dawa Mobile Health, is a last-mile delivery service that works as an add-on to existing health care infrastructure primarily for rural communities
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
10 villages in Ngouri (region of Lake-Chad) in Chad
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
TCD
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
In rural Chad, significant parts of the population live spread out in villages. There are health clinics in some smaller towns and regional hospitals in some regional towns. Specialist expertise is still mainly located in the capital N’Djamena. This means that a person in need of health care needs to travel, often for hours if not a day, and then wait to see the doctor, sometimes for days. This means that although the fee for the service itself might be affordable, the real cost (including transportation and several days in a town) is too expensive for most. And most people cannot spend several days away from home. For people with chronic illnesses, such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS diabetes, heart conditions, who need regular check ups, the costs and time needed accumulate and become even less realistic. In the end, they end up with complications that could have been avoided with regular check-ups.
What is your solution?
Dawa works on the principle that, when possible, it is better to transport information rather than people. When possible, the exam or sample can be done in the village, transporting the agent and the results rather than the patient. Dawa also operates on the principle of using minimally required resources at each step. For human resources, this means that most services do not engage a doctor or even a nurse for the physical interaction. The services of Dawa are based on an agent who travels to the villages, collects samples or performs basic exams, and then brings the results to a regional laboratory and a doctor who evaluates and acts on the results. Dawa also conducts documents results in a statistical manner which creates data needed to understand epidemiological developments and interventions needed. Dawa works with the communities to identify new or changing needs in health care and develops services to meet them.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves rural communities in Chad, particularly in f Lake-Chad region, where geographical isolation and financial constraints severely limit access to healthcare. These populations often have to travel for hours or even days to reach health facilities, making regular check-ups and timely treatment nearly impossible. Chronic conditions like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and heart diseases are frequently left unmanaged due to these barriers, worsening outcomes and increasing long-term health risks. By introducing mobile health services, our solution transports medical expertise—and crucially, diagnostic information—to patients, rather than requiring them to make the journey to distant clinics. Local agents are empowered to perform basic examinations and collect samples, which are then transmitted to regional centers for evaluation. This model significantly reduces both travel time and expense for patients. It enables regular monitoring and early intervention for chronic illnesses, improving overall health outcomes and quality of life. Ultimately, our solution directly addresses the current unmet needs in these underserved communities by bridging the gap between remote populations and essential healthcare services.
Solution Team:
Didier Lalaye
Didier Lalaye
Dr