A professor of Medical Engineering and Technology, Hippolite Amadi, has emerged winner of the 2023 Nigeria $100,000 Prize for Science.
The Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science led by Professor Barth Nnaji stated this at a press conference organised by the Nigeria LNG Limited, in Lagos on Thursday.
Nnaji said the winner, whose novel scientific work on respiratory technologies has helped to keep Nigerian newborn babies alive, was selected from 100 entries.
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He noted that Amadi was recognised for his innovative work in the field of newborn and child health titled, “Innovation for Enhancement of Healthcare Therapy”.
Citing the judges’ report, Nnaji said the work by Amadi had not only significantly advanced neonatal care in Nigeria and similar countries but also further improved access and lowered the cost of neonatal care by causing an observed reduction in the market prices of the competing and existing devices.
“The entry showcased three technological innovations aimed at saving the lives of neonates by making the delivery of oxygen cheap and easy.
“The first innovation is the non-invasive Neonatal Ventilator, a key invention (The bubble PoliteCPAP) for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation of very-low-birth-weight neonates, a feasible alternative to the readily available improvised bubble CPAP (IBCPAP) in cost-constrained settings.
