We may have made some headway into curbing the worldwide battle against malaria, but that fight is far from over.

According to some estimates there are around three billion people still at risk, with sub-Saharan Africa one of the worst affected areas.

It’s a pretty big deal then when an app comes along that can diagnose the disease, as well as others like tuberculosis, faster than other conventional methods.

Our local Apple experts Digicape have teamed up with xRapid, a London-based startup that has created a world first mobile health solution that provides automatic diagnosis of malaria via an iPhone app.

This is done through using cutting edge Digital Imaging (DI) technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and is is another example of how technology is disrupting the health sector to deliver more robust solutions that address current shortcomings in disease detection and treatment

Now available from Digicape, the xRapid solution includes an iPhone, the xRapid mobile app and an attachment system that works on both compound and field microscopes. If that all sounds super fancy then take a look at this video, things might become a little clearer:

Here’s Robin Olivier, MD of Digicape:

“We need healthcare solutions in Africa that are designed with the continent’s people and circumstances in mind. Digicape is proud to be supporting the innovative work that xRapid has put into developing the solution that is so simple to use but also empowering to the healthcare and aid workers, patients, families and communities.”

And Jean Viry-Babel, xRapid CEO:

“We are very excited to be the first iPhone app to diagnose a major disease like malaria. Half of the global population is at risk, and we are very proud to be doing our part in improving the lives of those affected. The mHealth revolution is starting to help people all over the world and we are thrilled to be part of it.”

Great work chaps – now we just hope that governments and private healthcare institutions get on board.

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