“Health is a basic human right, regardless of your race, gender, or socioeconomic background, and no one should be excluded from it,” stated Itoro Inoyo, co-founder of Clafiya, in one of the platform’s introductory videos.
In more developed countries, this sentiment is universally accepted. However, in Nigeria, where the healthcare system struggles, this ideal only applies to a small portion of the population who can afford to pay for medical care.
The Nigerian healthcare system’s challenges have reached such extremes that even the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has sought medical attention abroad multiple times, including a recent trip. If the leader of the country cannot access adequate healthcare within Nigeria, how can the average citizen hope for the same?
Clafiya’s Origins and Mission
Jennie Nwokoye’s vision for improving healthcare in Nigeria began during her childhood. It wasn’t until she pursued a master’s degree in system engineering and management at Georgetown University that she started formulating a more concrete plan. Though she spent a significant part of her life in Nigeria, Jennie grew up in an affluent family that shielded her from many of the country’s healthcare struggles. Nonetheless, the difficulties many Nigerians faced in accessing healthcare left a lasting impact on her.
“Seeing the consequences of loved ones not getting proper healthcare made me realize the severity of the issue,” Jennie explained during an interview. This profound experience drove her to address the challenge through innovative solutions, leading to the creation of Clafiya.
Partnership with Itoro Inoyo
Jennie met Itoro Inoyo at a 2016 concert, where they bonded over discussions about Nigeria’s healthcare system. At the time, Clafiya was still an idea, and Itoro played an advisory role, drawing on her extensive experience in the healthcare sector. She had worked with several rural communities in Nigeria and had a background in biological sciences and public health.
The duo’s collaboration evolved into a formal partnership in 2020 when Clafiya, initially called “Healthcare Mobile,” entered a pitch competition hosted by Women in Global Health, where they won a grant.
How Clafiya Works
Clafiya is a digital platform connecting individuals in rural and semi-urban areas with Community Health Workers (CHWs) who offer home-based primary care services. Through a simple USSD code, users can register, select a service plan, and request a healthcare worker to visit their home.
The platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to track emerging disease outbreaks and generate data that helps guide governmental decisions on healthcare resource distribution. By leveraging AI and predictive analytics, Clafiya helps make health data more accessible and actionable for policymakers.
Service Plans and Accessibility
Clafiya offers four distinct service plans: a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) option, as well as plans for single users, maternity care, and family coverage. The PAYG plan starts at ₦2000 ($4.9), designed to cater to those who can afford to pay out of pocket. The other plans range in price from ₦3000 to ₦5000 ($7.3 to $12.2), with the most comprehensive plan covering primary healthcare services, excluding maternity care.
Adapting to Local Needs
During Clafiya’s initial field testing, Itoro discovered that many Nigerians, particularly women, were hesitant to visit healthcare facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This insight led Clafiya to focus on providing home-based care, a service that addresses the needs of those who are disconnected from the internet or lack access to smartphones.
USSD technology, which works on basic phones, is central to Clafiya’s ability to reach a broader population, especially in underserved areas. The platform’s flexibility empowers users to control their healthcare experience, choosing when and who to attend to them.
Challenges of Building Clafiya
While building Clafiya, Jennie and Itoro faced the challenges of navigating Nigeria’s complex healthcare environment. Jennie, in particular, noted that being a woman in a male-dominated industry often made it difficult to be taken seriously, but her persistence paid off.
Clafiya’s Vision and Expansion Plans
Unlike many startups that focus on Lagos, Clafiya chose to launch in Enugu, a state in southeastern Nigeria, to ensure that rural populations aren’t overlooked. Jennie and Itoro’s long-term vision includes expanding Clafiya’s services to other regions across the country, proving that healthcare is a right that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.
