Villgro Kenya has invested $50,000 to The Pathology Network, a digital referral platform for pathologists in Kenya to help the platform reach more users in the country.
Villgro Kenya, in a statement, said the country has over 47,000 new cancer cases and 33,000 cancer-related deaths annually with a limited number of cancer diagnosis centres and Pathologists leading to delays in diagnosing cancer early enough for treatment.
The Pathology Network-An Artificial Intelligence-powered digital platform linking small labs to specialized labs for seamless tests referral with access to specialists remotely to shorten the turn around time for diagnosis, promoting early medical intervention for prevention and treatment.
Through The Pathology Network Platform, small labs refer the specimen to specialized regional labs for processing and slide digitization in readiness for a Pathologist to diagnose and report on the cases remotely.
Dr Joshua Kibera, Chief Executive Officer at The Pathology Network Limited termed the investment as catalytic and stated that the company would also greatly benefit from the technical assistance and business coaching offered by Villgro Kenya team.
“On behalf of everyone at The Pathology Network, I would like to thank Villgro Kenya for a meticulous and transparent due diligence process and for choosing to invest in our company. We are excited to partner with VK and look forward to revolutionizing the diagnostic space together.”
“This investment comes at a time when most investors are scaling back on deals due to the business slump being experienced in many parts as a result of COVID-19. At Villgro Kenya, we strongly feel that this is the time that enterprises need all the financial support that they can get to cushion themselves against the negative economic impact of COVID-19. We are proud to play a small role in ensuring that startups outlive the pandemic.” Wilfred – Co-founder at Villgro Kenya.