The Chimney Scientist
Meet Leon Joseph III
The young Philadelphia Chimney Sweep modernizing the West African healthcare system. In less than 2 years, while growing his chimney company and receiving his M.S. in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Biomedical Sciences, Leon has managed to 100% self-fund and establish multiple medical diagnostic facilities and ultra sound clinics in West Africa that act as subcontractors to 47 hospitals and 23 Pharmacies. This has enabled local medical facilities access to medical diagnostic equipment they normally could never afford. Financial incentives for practitioners prescribing our tests, coupled with the implementation of our free online patient portals have allowed Afrilab Medical to rapidly spearhead change in the West African healthcare system in a sustainable way. Leon’s high energy and business background has enabled him to partner with the right people to implement his non-profit quickly, and effectively.
The Chimney Scientist
Meet Leon Joseph III
The young Philadelphia Chimney Sweep modernizing the West African healthcare system. In less than 2 years, while growing his chimney company and receiving his M.S. in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Biomedical Sciences, Leon has managed to 100% self-fund and establish multiple medical diagnostic facilities and ultra sound clinics in West Africa that act as subcontractors to 47 hospitals and 23 Pharmacies. This has enabled local medical facilities access to medical diagnostic equipment they normally could never afford. Financial incentives for practitioners prescribing our tests, coupled with the implementation of our free online patient portals have allowed Afrilab Medical to rapidly spearhead change in the West African healthcare system in a sustainable way. Leon’s high energy and business background has enabled him to partner with the right people to implement his non-profit quickly, and effectively.
From Lab Scientist
Our Roots
Afrilab Medical Diagnostics was developed out of necessity. In the summer of 2017, Leon Joseph III and his partner, a former University of Nigeria researcher, Azeez Olamide Akanni, were in need of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine to amplify water-borne parasite DNA from a two-week expedition they organized throughout five jungle cities in Liberia with the goal of creating an antibody-antigen rapid test kit to provide clean drinking water practices for children. They had a difficult time finding a working PCR machine or leasable lab within a two-day drive from their home base just outside of Lagos, Nigeria. Leon proclaims “Eventually I said –
well, we might as well set up a research facility. Over the long term it was cheaper to own than to rent, so we just started accumulating lab equipment needed for scientific research.”. As word got around the university of their equipment, local hospitals inquired to use the facility for medical diagnostic tests. Afrilab Medical Diagnostics was quickly formed. In under one year Afrilab has grown like wildfire to open multiple medical diagnostics facilities and have included two ultrasound clinics for expecting mothers. As awareness grows Afrilab continues to add more services and collect more healthcare and socioeconomic data, some of the first of its kind in the region.
Education & Training
Afrilab medical has partnered with regional education centers to successfully develop a curriculum for local students to be trained in healthcare worker roles including sonography. Allowing local educational centers to use Afrilab’s medical facilities to provide students with “hands on” training has been vital in creating a pipeline of well-trained young medical diagnostic practitioners for our locations.
Why Afrilab/AfriHealth is a Third world Philanthropic Game Changer?
Accountability
Afrilab recognizes that theft can be a big issue in terms of third world philanthropic donations. That is why the facilities have implemented extensive information systems to keep track of the incoming revenues from medical tests. There is a thorough record of every payment input into the system, as well as every administered test. Data cannot be altered by anyone inside the facility. The patient portal can be accessed online to see which patients are coming in and out of the facilities in real time. Video surveillance is also provided onsite to match the number of patients with the number of database entries.
Historically, completely free diagnostic machines have been philanthropically provided with working capital for salaries. Administrators would often immediately sell the machines, close the facilities, create fake data to submit for more needed salaries and the project would dead end after the donors eventually figured out what was going on.
Afrilab facilities take in revenue, which pays the staff, the administration and staff have a financial incentive to keep the locations in operation. If a location is not producing enough revenue to break even within six months, the machines are relocated by Afrilab to a new location and the staff is laid off or offered to move to that new location. This capitalist approach that we have created ensures long term sustainability for our organization and accountability for our growing number of employees.
PARTNER WITH US
Leon Joseph is actively seeking donors to increase Afrilab’s coverage area. With all new equipment, the average facility costs $47,000 to start. Afrilab eventually managed to lower the cost to $30,000 by purchasing used equipment. Afrilab has recently been working with a U.S. religious nonprofit to get medical diagnostic equipment donated for a small administrative fee. Afrilab is now able to able outfit six medical facilities in west Africa for approximately $36,000 total. This includes an ultrasound clinic, x-ray machines and lab equipment, a pathology and chemistry lab, along with other needs. Six facilities would be able to service a sizeable area for roughly 600,000 people; however, west Africa is a tremendously large region and Leon’s goal is to open 200 facilities over the next five years. His partnership with regional education centers has led to a successful development of hands on training for local students striving for a career in healthcare.
Get Involved Now
$7000 Set up 1 medical diagnostic facility- employs 6 people
Facility named after you i.e. “The John Smith Afrilab Medical Diagnostic facility” picture included upon completion
$2000 set up 1 blood bank & blood drop off center -employs 2 people
Facility named after you i.e. “The John Smith Afrilab Medical Diagnostic facility” picture toward included upon completion
$100 sponsor the hands-on education of ultra sound stenographers or X ray technician
$100 towards a Sea container of Equipment outfitting 6 medical diagnostic location able to help over 1 million people/year
$ donation amount whatever you can do to help us make a difference
Contact us
info@afrilabmedical.org
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info@afrilabmedical.org
Make a difference
$ donation amount whatever you
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