AfriMedico at a glance

Medicine for the last mile

Our Mission

AfriMedico links Africa to Japan, delivering health and smiles through medical services.

Our Activity

  • Promotion of self-medication with Okigusuri (use first, pay later) system
  • Health education for Okigusuri users
  • Research on medical environment
  • Promotion of health condition of African countries in Japan

By saving human life with Okigusuri or OTC (over the counter drugs), AfriMedico contributes UHC (Universal health Coverage) means that “all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship” (WHO).

Board Members

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Eri Machii

Founder and CEO

Pharmacist. Worked as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer for infectious diseases control in Niger for 2 years. Experience in Niger made her think how we can improve the medical services in Africa, and decide to attend the Graduate School of Management of Globis University. Established AfriMedico from the belief that "We can learn each other because we have differences each other. We want to improve both of Africa and Japan."

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Motohiro Aoki

Director

Joined to Pharmaceutical company as MR. Start his career from Toyama, where is birthplace of "OKIGUSURI", as MR with infectious disease speciality. After careers of some information data vendors for pharma, he had gained expertise related with drug lifecycle, innovation to post launching phase. And now, he is working for life-science industry at strategic consulting firm. He feels strong sympathy with mission of AfriMedico, and hopes contribution for "Medicine for the last mile", as Director of Overseas-Strategy & Funding since May 2016. "We’re not working only for the charity. But also for giving to sustainable self-medication with Japanese traditional business model, create new jobs, and contribute to positive health cycle in Africa. That is why I am here, AfriMedico. Sure, realizing that ideal has never been easy, however we can leave our footprint, and do our best for them."

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Makiko Yamaguchi

Director

Bachelor of French Language. Business development and overseas marketing in a multinational imaging and electronics company.
When she was a student, the sight of children who happily run around with a pen in Morocco burned into her mind, she decided to pursue the dream of “contributing to Africa through business” and at the same time making Japan more energetic.
Soon after she has met AfriMedico, decided to join the activity, by strongly sympathizing the mission and the professionalism of the members.
Became a director since October 2016. Responsible for overseas strategy, public relations and human resources.

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Noriko Takemura

Director

Bachelor of Information Science. After graduated from Tsukuba University, Noriko started her career as a software engineer of business applications for enterprises. Now she has changed the job and works for a retail company after spending her working holidays in Vancouver, Canada for a year.
Since Noriko became aware of disparity of opportunity among overseas children, especially those who cannot attend school because of poverty, she had been seeking a chance to contribute for them. She approved the vision of AfriMedico, doing business in order to solve the social issues, and decided to join it in 2018. She had served as a member of fundraising team to support the organization tackling the business issues under the tough conditions in Tanzania, Africa. Appointed as a Director in 2020.

Staff

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Geofrey Yambayamba

Tanzania CEO

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Gosby Mnyanyi

Tanzania General Secretary

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Mary Spicar Kilapilo

Deputy director, a treasurer and a member of a research team

I am currently a fourth-year student of Bachelor degree of pharmacy at Muhimbili University of heath and allied Science in Dar es salaam Tanzania. It’s a great honor for me to be a member of Afrimedico working on different committees helping my society through Afrimedico. With Afrimedico I get to practice what I learn in the class and help my society. I enjoy learning new things as well as improving my experience in public health. I am grateful for all the Afrimedico team members for their commitment and sense of hard working, with all the members working together I surely get to learn new things every day. Thank you.

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Deus Mathew Mtweve

Director of PROCUREMENT and also Research Team member.

I am self motivated, ambitious and hardworking personal,who enjoy helping people.I am excellent/committed in working with others to achieve certain objectives on time and with excellence.
Always eager to learn new things,new knowledge and improve my experience in public health and leadership.
Currently, I am a four year student pursuing bachelor degree in pharmacy at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences(MUHAS)-Tanzania,Interested in global health and Mental health.

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Dietram Samson Mhadisa

I am a mature, positive and hardworking individual who always strives to achieve the highest standard possible, at any given task. I am currently in my fourth year pursuing a bachelor degree of Pharmacy at Kampala International University in Tanzania. I have excellent communication skills, Problem solving skills and great team work player with others to achieve a certain objective on time and with excellent.

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Fortunatus Sebastian Malisa

Director of Operation and Development team and a member in Research team

I am a fourth year pharmacy student at MUHAS – TANZANIA with demonstrated versatility in adapting to ever-increasing complexity in the healthcare industry, Committed to providing quality pharmaceutical care as an essential link in diseases management. I am accustomed to working in a challenging and fast- paced environment, particularly when dealing with multiple projects and priorities at the same time. I am passionate for positive change, interested in Public health and voluntary activities to helping others and improve my career.

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Edius Mukurasi

Dedicated young professional working towards a bachelor degree in pharmacy currently in year three at Muhimbili University of Healthy and Allied Sciences(MUHAS)–Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
I am a member of Education team and Research team. As an extroverted person, truly I enjoy working as a team and exploit more knowledge toward advancement in my pharmacy career. I am friendly, hardworking and ambitious towards improving health status of people in our societies.

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George P Sekibojo

George is a fourth year student pursuing bachelor degree in medicine at Kampala international university-Dar es salaam in Tanzania.
As a member of health education team, i am a person with high integrity self esteem and honest person and always willing to learn new knowledge. I am interested in volunteering, practicing career and provide health education also to cooperate with others in health issues and development.

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Happy Remen Ruben

Happy is a fourth year student pursuing bachelor degree in medicine at Kampala international university-Dar es salaam in Tanzania.
As a member of health education team, I am a hard working, honest person and always willing to learn new knowledge. I am interested in volunteering and provide health education also to cooperate with others in health issues.

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Husna Suleyman Bwenzi

Husna is a fourth year student pursuing bachelor degree in Pharmacy at Kampala international university-Dar es salaam in Tanzania.
As a member of Procurement team, I am a hard working, honest person and always willing to learn new knowledge and skills.Am always like and interested to cooperate with others in health issues.

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Jumanne Joseph Kabazi

I am an energetic, self-motivated and hardworking person who has developed a mature and responsible approach to any task that I undertake. I am currently in my fourth year pursuing a bachelor degree of Pharmacy at Kampala International University in Tanzania. I have excellent communication skills, Problem solving skills and great team work player with others to achieve a certain objective on time and with excellent.

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Mwanaidi Watima

I am fourth year student pursuing bachelor of pharmacy at Kampala International University In Tanzania. I am a member of health education team. I am interested in volunteering on health care issues, also to learn new things and cooperating with other health care personal on solving various health problems to the community.

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Nasra Abdallah Njiku

I am Nasra Abdallah Njiku a third year student pursuing bachelor degree in biotechnology and laboratory sciences at Sokoine University of Agriculture(SUA)-Morogoro region in Tanzania.As a member of AFRIMEDICO in Public relation team,I am highly open to learn and get experience especially on issues related of public health importance.As a biotechnologist ,self motivated young lady and committed to work and volunteer in communities especially in developing countries where health sector is still a challenge.I am interested in applying medical biotechnology knowledge to solve health problems and make the world a better place for everyone.

“Let's save our community , We go extra miles, and Afrimedico is our home place”

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Peter Levi Manyoni

My name is Peter Levi Manyoni, a member of Health Education Team. I'm registered Pharmacist and graduate of Bachelor of Pharmacy at Muhimbili University of health and Allied Science in 2018, also underwent Teaching and Assessment methodology training at Center for Education Development in Health, Arusha (CEDHA). Energetic and passionate person to work with others in different fields, especially Health field. I’m interested to work with Non - Government Organizations (NGOs) and International Organization which has been my lifelong dream. Currently I’m a Tutor at Hermargs Institute of Health and Allied Sciences – Morogoro, Tanzania.

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Zuwena Said

My name is Zuwena Said, a fourth-year student pursuing Bachelor in Pharmacy at Kampala International University in Dar es salaam Tanzania. I am greatly honored being a member of Afrimedico particularly in health education team. I believe volunteer work provides a sense of personal fulfillment, well-being and satisfaction. I appreciate all the hard work, cooperation and support I receive from Afrimedico members so as to improve the health life standard of people. Together we can.

Media and Collaboration

Salesforce World Tour Tokyo 2018

Our directors Aoki and Yamaguchi gave a presentation titled “Social Innovation in Africa with Okigusuri” at Salesforce World Tour Tokyo 2018, the biggest Salesforce event. We had the exhibition and thanks to all those who visited our booth.

Newsweek

Our CEO Machii is selected as one of “100 Japanese People The World Respects”, a special issue of Newsweek Japan published on 30th April, 2019.

NHK World – Japan

Concept of Okigusuri and our activities are introduced in a world-wide TV program “Fresh Eyes on Japan: From Toyama to Tanzania: Oki-gusuri Medicine Peddlers Cross the World” in Swahili language.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2076007/

TokyoReview

“Remote African communities face challenges that are similar in some ways to those of Edo Japan”
An old Japanese idea brings medicine to rural Africa

Annual Report

Donation

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