As we are clearly seeing with the COVID-19 crisis, the development of new tools and diagnostics is central to fighting disease, including for maternal and child health. The South African government plays a critical role in funding research and development to solve local health challenges and has committed to allocating 0.15% of GDP on health research. This funding, which is currently at 0.003% of GDP, is essential to meeting our country’s urgent health needs while also building research infrastructure and manufacturing capacities that strengthen South Africa’s regional leadership and yield economic return. 

Researchers and innovators across South Africa are always working to develop lifesaving tools. One example of this is the collaboration between the Department of Science and Innovation, researchers from the South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the South African Medical Research Council in the development of a low-cost Doppler ultrasound called the Umbiflow™ to improve care for pregnant women and their babies.

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