LUSUNGU CHIKOWELA
Lusaka
WHEN Niza Mwambazi lost her grandmother to diabetes, she resolved to develop an innovation that would enable people living with the condition to get treatment early. This resolve led to her development of the ‘The Beetroot Bandage’, an antibacterial dressing that uses a natural pH indicator extracted from beetroot to detect possible infections in diabetic wounds.
Niza, who is a learner at Laura Girls Secondary School in Kasama, shared that she was inspired to develop the innovation after losing her grandmother as well as witnessing her aunt undergo a leg amputation due to diabetes.
“I wanted to come up with something that could help monitor wounds before they become severe,” she said.
She explained that the bandage changes colour depending on the condition of the wound.
“If the wound is alkaline, the bandage turns fungi yellow, indicating a possible infection. If the wound is acidic, it turns bright red, showing that the wound is healing. When the wound is neutral, the bandage remains purple, indicating that it is neither infected nor healing,” she said.
The innovation was further tested on 10 patients at Kasama General Hospital. The hospital provided a recommendation letter confirming the effectiveness of the project. She now hopes to attract investment to establish an industry capable of producing the bandages on a larger scale, develop specialised packaging that keeps the bandages sterile for extended periods and establish mobile clinics to serve rural communities.
“The idea you have today can turn into a huge product that the world uses tomorrow. Do not be demotivated because you are young. You can do all things with God by your side, “ she said as an encouragement to fellow young people to pursue their ideas. The innovation earned Niza a place at this year’s Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show after Laura Girls Secondary School emerged winners at both the district and provincial agricultural competitions, thus qualifying to represent Northern Province at the national exhibition.
With ‘The Beetroot Bandage’, Niza hopes her personal loss will one day inspire a solution that helps reduce diabetic wound complications.
