A group of teenage girls from Sumaya Girls’ Secondary School in Nsangi, Uganda, have designed a breakthrough urinary tract infection (UTI) detector strip that could transform how infections are diagnosed and treated across the country.
Called the Euro-care UTI Detector Strip, the innovation provides results in under four minutes, offering a private, affordable, and reliable alternative to hospital-based testing.
The project was guided by Hashim Wangusa, a science teacher and patron of the school’s innovation hub, who encouraged the students to focus on real-world problems from their communities. Wangusa ensured the girls combined creativity with scientific rigor—testing their strip against hospital-standard kits at both the school clinic and a private facility. The results were consistent, strengthening their case for regulatory review.
Urinary tract infections are among the most common infections globally, disproportionately affecting women, yet they remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in Uganda. Delays often arise from stigma, lack of privacy, and the high costs of formal medical testing. Untreated UTIs can escalate into kidney disease, infertility, or complications during pregnancy.
This student-led innovation comes at a critical time: research shows that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain widespread among Ugandan youth. A pooled analysis of three national surveys (2006–2016) found that 26% of women aged 15–24 reported STI symptoms, with prevalence reaching 36% in 2011. The unmet need for low-cost, discreet diagnostics underscores the potential impact of youth-driven solutions like the UTI strip.
Beyond health implications, the project highlights the power of mentorship and innovation hubs in schools. What began as a handful of students tinkering with ideas has now grown into a movement of more than 60 young innovators tackling issues from healthcare to environmental sustainability.
Winning first place at the National Schools Championship 2025 further validated the students’ efforts. At the award ceremony, government officials praised their work as proof that Uganda’s young people can lead in designing solutions to pressing public health challenges.
With refinement and certification from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the Euro-care strip could become a vital diagnostic tool—reducing the burden on hospitals, encouraging early treatment, and empowering patients to take charge of their health privately and affordably.
