Blockchain projects to fund HIV testing in Africa

Blockchain-based health tech firm Kinect entered a partnership with Kamari, a multi-country project for mobile gaming, online casino and lotteries to fund and promote new HIV testing programmes in many countries across the African continent within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a press statement. Kinect and Kamari entered into a US$2.5m coin swap to fund the initiative.

Both Kinect and Kamari share involvement in Africa aspects; the prior works closely together with ministries of health and large global charities across Africa, while the latter has licenses in over seven African countries.

The two companies proposed the establishment of a multi-country lottery to motivate untested men between the ages of 18 and 34 to undergo an HIV test at participating clinics with the goal of promoting education and treatment for infected people. The partnership focuses on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“HIV infection is a serious issue in many African countries and the ongoing spread of the disease by untested individuals has been incredibly difficult to address” said Toby Carroll, the Chairman of Kinect. “We believe that this partnership with Kamari and the proposed lottery to incentivise those untested individuals to take their first test, will lead to increased education, treatment and hopefully reduce the spread of the disease,” he added.

“Africa will be a multi-currency universe creating benefit and liquidity to all from the unbanked to the commercially astute,” added Dr. Christopher Cleverly, the CEO of Kamari. “Kinect has a model that will thrive on an interoperable platform of shared values created through collaboration. This will be a game changer for medical data and application on the continent,” the professional added.

Since 2016 Kinect has collected US$5.75m to help the successful expansion of business development across Africa and other emerging economies with the greatest need.

Kinect recently formed a partnership with ZEU Crypto networks and its Canadian Stock Exchange listed company, St Georges Eco-Mining to develop its private blockchain that can integrate with major platforms including Cardano and EOS. ZEU Crypto Networks is investing US$2.45m into Kinect to enable development and expansion in existing operations, according to the press statement.

EDITORIAL NOTE: HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, most commonly transferred through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person; sharing of needles, syringes, rinse water, or other equipment used to prepare illicit drugs for injection; and from mother-to-child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. If you feel that you might be involved, please immediately contact the Genitourinary GU Clinic of Mater Dei Hospital for due care. The clinic operates on the essential factor of absolute confidentiality, and no information is provided to anybody. The treatment and counselling are provided free to everybody.