Health Team
Improving Access to Healthcare through Engineering Solutions
The EWB-UD Health Team is dedicated to developing medical devices and engineering solutions that improve health outcomes in Malawi and beyond, focusing on impactful, sustainable solutions for communities in need.
New Partnerships
Partnering with Khanda Health Clinic
The Health Team is collaborating with the Khanda Health Clinic in Malawi to co-design and implement medical solutions that address local needs. This partnership ensures that projects are informed by direct feedback from healthcare providers and the community, supporting sustainable and culturally appropriate innovation. By maintaining an ongoing dialogue and prioritizing local expertise, the team is able to adapt solutions in real time, ensuring they remain practical, effective, and responsive to evolving challenges.
Why Malawi?
Malawi faces significant maternal health challenges, making it a critical location for impactful engineering interventions. Working with Khanda Health Clinic ensures solutions are locally relevant and sustainable.
Team Values
The Health Team values collaboration, cultural humility, and evidence-based design, striving to empower both students and community partners.
PM Spotlight
Ben Abraham
Project Manager
What inspired you to get involved with the Health Team and its mission?
When first approached with developing this team, I knew that I was immediately on board because I have heavy interests in Health, particularly being a biomedical engineering major. This was at a time where I was still finding out how I can fit into EWB-UD's picture, and I figured that I can use my interests in community health and engineering to address unmet needs of our partners abroad. I hope that our chapter's Health team is able to identify and address unmet clinical needs for communities locally and globally, bringing together health-minded students with partnering communities.
Perineal Heating Pad Project
Perineal Warming Device for Maternal Health
The Perineal Heating Pad Project is focused on creating a simple, effective warming device to support women during childbirth in Malawi. The team is working closely with the Khanda Health Clinic to ensure the design meets local needs and can be used safely and comfortably. So far, the group has explored different materials and approaches for the heating pad, and is now learning AutoCAD to help with prototyping and design. The project is still in its early stages, but the team is excited to keep developing and testing ideas with input from healthcare providers and the community.
Thinking Locally and Sustainably
The project team is also exploring ways to make the heating pad reusable and easy to clean, so it can have a lasting impact for clinics with limited resources.