Chinonso Egemba, widely known for his Aproko Doctor brand, has been a go-to source for health advice for millions across Africa. With nearly seven million followers on social media platforms like X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Egemba is now venturing into the healthtech sector. His new startup, AwaDoc, aims to be the first point of contact for health concerns for Africans.
The journey that led Egemba to launch AwaDoc began during his final year in medical school. He witnessed a tragic incident where a patient passed away after failing to follow a doctor’s advice, despite being fully aware of the gravity of their condition. This pivotal moment set Egemba on a path of health content creation, using relatable characters like Emeka and Nkechi to help millions of Nigerians stay health-conscious.
“I’ve always been passionate about ensuring that every African, particularly Nigerians, has the information they need to access proper healthcare,” Egemba shared in an interview with the media. “I wanted to empower people with knowledge, but over time, I realised that information alone wasn’t enough.”
As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a ratio of ten doctors for every 10,000 people. However, only seven African countries meet this standard. In Nigeria, the situation is even more dire, with just four doctors per 10,000 people. This shortage has been worsened by a massive exodus of healthcare professionals in recent years. High wages, a struggling economy, and poor working conditions have driven many doctors, even fresh graduates, to seek opportunities abroad. This trend has resulted in a highly strained healthcare system, where underpaid and overworked doctors struggle to provide adequate care.
In response, Egemba, together with co-founder Jesse Benedict, created AwaDoc, aiming to address some of these issues. However, Egemba insists that AwaDoc is not just another telemedicine app. Instead, he envisions it as a platform that simplifies the healthcare journey, especially in navigating the often frustrating and complicated Nigerian healthcare system.
Unlike the many telemedicine platforms already in operation, AwaDoc takes a unique approach to address some of the challenges facing healthcare in Nigeria. Telemedicine has had limited success in Nigeria, with low healthcare insurance coverage being a major roadblock. Only about 3% of Nigerians have access to health insurance, and for many, it’s often tied to their employer. This leaves a significant portion of the population without adequate health coverage, limiting the effectiveness of telemedicine solutions.
AwaDoc aims to go beyond telemedicine by focusing on the broader patient journey. “AwaDoc is not a telemedicine platform,” says Egemba. “It’s a platform that ensures the healthcare process is easier, especially navigating the Nigerian system.” This refers to the widespread tendency among Nigerians to self-diagnose and self-medicate, which often leads to delayed treatment or complications.
The solution? An AI-powered chatbot that works directly on WhatsApp. By building on WhatsApp, which has a penetration rate of nearly ten million Nigerians, AwaDoc ensures that users don’t have to go through extra steps to get medical guidance. “One thing I’ve learned is that enthusiasm doesn’t scale, but fatigue does,” explains Egemba. “If people have to jump through hoops to access something, they’ll eventually lose interest.”
By leveraging the power of WhatsApp, AwaDoc is making healthcare more accessible for millions of Nigerians and Africans at large. With the platform’s AI-driven chatbot, users can get answers to health-related questions, receive symptom analysis, and get next-step recommendations, all without the need for a complicated app or website.
I am passionate about crafting stories, vibing to good music (and making some too), debating Nigeria’s political future like it’s the World Cup, and finding the perfect quiet spot to work and unwind.
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