How Nalubega fights mosquitos with soap

Sep 28, 2019

To help curb the malaria deaths, 22-year-old Joan Nalubega, under her company Uganics, invented bar soap that repels mosquitoes.

HEALTH   INNOVATION

KAMPALA - Malaria is also one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Uganda, especially among children under five years.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that malaria accounts for over 27% of deaths. It kills at a rate of 478 cases per 1,000 populations per year.

Mosquito sprays, nets or gels are not only expensive to the low-income earners but they are also rare to find in rural shops.

To help curb the malaria deaths, 22-year-old Joan Nalubega, under her company Uganics, invented bar soap that repels mosquitoes.

It is an organic and affordable soap that prevents the spread of malaria.  Uganics' soap can be utilized in a variety of ways, such as bathing, washing hands and washing clothes.

 ganics soap Uganics soap

 
 "I work with four partners. We have two workers in production aside 20 women in Mpigi and Bethelem villages who grow the herbs from which I extract essential oils," Nalubega explains.

She has distributed more than 400 kg of soap and reached thousands of people through her sensitization campaigns with positive feedback regarding malaria elimination.

Nalubega sells the soap to resorts and tourists, looking for an organic way to prevent mosquito bites.  Here, she sells to them at a high margin to enable mothers in rural communities to get the same soap at a low price to protect their families.

There are three types of Uganics soap in 100gms; One for people with normal skin and this goes for sh10, 000 while the one with palm oil cost sh7, 000. The third type is the one for users with sensitive skin. It cost between sh18, 000-sh22, 000 depending on the market.

Nalubega says, that is the price for hotels and tourists but the disadvantaged group including women and children in villages buy it at sh3, 000. However, some women receive it for free during sensitization sessions at the local health centres in Mpigi.

Upon use, the soap repels mosquitoes between five to six hours.

 alubega with another competitor for the nzisha prize in outh frica Nalubega with another competitor for the Anzisha prize in South Africa

 
Nalubega scoops an international award

Due to her innovation, Nalubega recently emerged among the winners of ‘Champions of Science Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0' sponsored by Johnson & Johnson International Group of companies.

She was announced at the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa held in Cape Town, South Africa.

She was together with Phyllis Kyomuhendo 25, of Mscan Uganda.

The pair was sieved from over 900 applicants from 39 countries.

They are among the six winners who shared $300,000 (Approximately sh1.1bn).

This is in addition to extensive mentoring and connection network building, to support the expansion and sustainability of their projects.

However, this is not the first time Lady Luck has smiled Nalubega's way, early October last year, Nalubega won $12,500 after she emerged second-runners up for the Anzisha Prize in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Her childhood compelled her to wage war against malaria

A trip down the memory lane, Nalubega recalls being sickly throughout her childhood. She was irregular at school because malaria put her down most of the time.

At school she was discriminated against and branded HIV positive because of her ill health and slim size. The stigma instead drove her to invent ways of fighting malaria.

In 2016, after she failed to get into University due to financial constraints, she joined Social Innovation Academy (SINA) in Mpigi, along Kampala- Masaka road where she was helped to develop the mosquito repellant.

Growing up, Nalubega went to Kankobe children's home and St. Aloysious Kankobe Primary School for her primary education. For secondary, she went to Kasubi SSS, Margaret SSS Kikaaya and Lubiri High school.

SINA educates orphans, street children, refugees, and other disadvantaged youth to become job creators and social entrepreneurs with the ability to turn challenges into solutions.

Nalubega is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of the People in USA.

She is inspired by Carlo Costantini who spent most of his time at university doing research on malaria preventions.

"He has a lot of knowledge on what I am doing. He also invested a lot of time in carrying out different tests. I would celebrate meeting him," she dreams.

Nalubega, hopes to substantially contribute to the vision of making Uganda and Africa a better place, free from malaria. She plans to spread her product to all corners of the country before exporting to Africa.

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