Startup Story
For victims of conflict and low income people who cannot access affordable healthcare in Cameroon, help is now at hand, thanks to social entrepreneur Bih Adelaide, co-founder of African Initiative For Health and Research Promotion (AIHRP). Her venture is now providing pro-bono health care services to those who need it most.
LoA learned more about the impact being made by Bih Adelaide and her team this month…
More about the founder
Bih Adelaide is a Clinical Biologist with over 5 years of working experience and the president and Co-founder of the African Initiative for Health and Research Promotion in Cameroon. Being a victim of the ongoing Anglophone Cameroon armed conflict, she decided to use her medical skills to create a social entrepreneurship venture that provides pro-bono healthcare services to other victims of the conflict and low income persons in the Mbankolo neighbourhood of Yaounde II, Cameroon.
What does your company do?
We offer timely, high quality pro-bono health care services to victims of conflict (internally displaced persons and refugees), and low-income persons irrespective of their socio-economic status. Specifically, we offer free medical consultations, subsidized laboratory tests and medications.
“AIHRP brings together a team of professionals healthcare workers who devote their time and skills to providing quality, pro bono health care services to the victims of conflict and low-income persons who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford for the services.”
What inspired you to start your company?
While doing identification of internally displaced persons for the Afrogiveness center, I came in contact with a young lady who had 5 little kids, I was worried about how she managed with them. So, I tried to inquire more. Of the 5 kids, 3 of them were hers and 2 had recently lost their mother to an illness (malaria) due to lack of finances to consult a physician. A death that could have been prevented with as little as 5 USD had the illness been tackled in time. I was devastated and felt the need to establish a platform to meet the needs of these people, thus the birth of AIHRP.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
AIHRP brings together a team of professionals healthcare workers who devote their time and skills to providing quality, pro bono health care services to the victims of conflict and low-income persons who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford for the services. Also, AIHRP gives them a non interest health loan. Through AIHRP's partnerships, IDPs and low-income persons have the opportunity to get educational supports and vocational opportunities to help better their lives.
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is made up of 10 health care volunteers that cut across the medical field (3 medical doctors, 3 Clinical Biologists, 1 dentist, 1 nurse, 1 psychologist and 1 public health specialists), to service in the provision of optimal, timely pro-bono health care services to internally displaced persons and low-income persons.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
As a social entrepreneur, after realizing the needs of the internally displaced persons and very low-income persons, I established a facility to meet their health needs.
In order to make it sustainable, we opened it to the general public and use the funds to subsidize the healthcare of those in dire need.
“Through AIHRP's partnerships, IDPs and low-income persons have the opportunity to get educational supports and vocational opportunities to help better their lives.”
“My future aspiration is to expand this initiative throughout my country Cameroon, in particular and Africa as a whole in communities in dire need of our services, so as to impact the lives of as many people as possible.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future aspiration is to expand this initiative throughout my country Cameroon, in particular and Africa as a whole in communities in dire need of our services, so as to impact the lives of as many people as possible.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
My greatest satisfaction when I am able to impact the life someone in need of my services and see them healthy and happy about the work I do.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
My advice to all women who are looking to start-up is: Do not to be discouraged and easily give up on their dreams. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. All we need to do is take that first step and we shall overcome the challenges, for every problem has a solution. People need our services.
Contact or follow African Initiative For Health and Research Promotion (AIHRP):
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | EMAIL adelaide@aihrp.org
Why LoA loves it…
It is truly inspirational to see social entrepreneurs and health professionals such as Bih Adelaide making a huge impact through their businesses and social enterprises. Bih is a dedicated, passionate health professional who has found a real need in her country to provide access to medical care, and her business model is making a real difference to people’s lives. Bih is an inspiration to other mission-driven social entrepreneurs in her country and across the continent who want to similarly make a difference in the world. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa