BY NELIWE NGUBANE (INTERN)
MATSAPHA – The promise of E50 000 in prize money and the opportunity to transform healthcare through technology inspired young innovators to put their best ideas forward during the Digital Wellness Pitch Day, where five outstanding teams emerged victorious.
The winning innovations were DonorConnect, MedEuphoria, LulamaChat Eswatini, ShiftFlow and HealthConnect Eswatini, all of which impressed judges with solutions aimed at addressing various healthcare challenges facing communities.
Speaking during the prize-giving ceremony, MTN Marketing Officer Mishack Maseko encouraged participants who did not make it into the Top Five not to lose hope.
He reminded them that failure to secure a winning position did not mean they were not winners.
Maseko noted that many successful entrepreneurs and innovators did not necessarily win competitions during the early stages of their journeys, yet later achieved remarkable success through perseverance and dedication.
He also challenged the winners to ensure that the E10 000 prize money becomes a stepping stone towards bringing their innovations to life.
“The real victory will be seen when these ideas are implemented and begin making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
One of the winning teams, DonorConnect, celebrated the achievement as a result of teamwork and collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Vuyo Mncina explained that the project started from different ideas brought forward by team members before being merged into one solution.
He said the team regularly consulted lecturers for guidance and worked closely with the national blood bank to gather information that would help them better understand challenges surrounding blood donation and donor management.
Another winner, Nimrode Mdluli of HealthConnect Eswatini, said his prototype was designed to improve access to healthcare services while connecting patients with healthcare providers more efficiently.
Reflecting on his victory, Mdluli encouraged young people with innovative ideas to remain committed to their dreams.
“There was a time when I never imagined I would be among the winners, but persistence and belief in my idea kept me going,” he said.
LulamaChat Eswatini also secured a place among the winning teams. Speaking after the announcement, the company’s Chief Executive Officer expressed gratitude to God and the judges for recognising their innovation.
He said the team did not take the achievement lightly and viewed it as proof that young people have the potential to contribute meaningfully to Eswatini’s economy through innovation and technology.
Meanwhile, fellow winner SandlaseNkhosi Dlamini admitted that he was surprised by the outcome.
He described himself as grateful and excited, saying the competition featured many brilliant innovators with outstanding ideas.
“I honestly did not expect to win because the standard of competition was very high,” he said.
The event also featured remarks from judge Thulani Nhlabatsi, who applauded the growing number of young women participating in innovation and technology-driven initiatives.
Drawing from his school experiences, Nhlabatsi said many girls previously shied away from such opportunities, making their participation and confidence today a positive sign of progress.
The Digital Wellness Pitch Day formed part of ongoing efforts to encourage youth-led innovation while promoting digital solutions capable of transforming healthcare delivery in Eswatini.
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