Realizing Accessible and Environmentally Sustainable Medical Devices in Low-Resource Healthcare Settings in Sub-Saharan Africa: Personal Narrative of the Designer’s Roles and Competencies

Abstract

This personal narrative outlines my evolving roles and competencies as a designer in developing a reusable medical device for low-resource healthcare settings in sub-Saharan Africa. The region suffers significant disease burdens and poor health outcomes, especially among women and vulnerable groups. The scarcity of medical devices deepens these disparities. I responded by developing a context-specific, reusable medical device that improved accessibility and was environmentally sustainable. However, integrating such devices into routine care poses challenges, requiring designers to move beyond an artifact-focused approach and adopt roles that facilitate implementation. Through eight years of longitudinal research, I identified five critical roles: shaper of collaboration, design facilitator, and knowledge broker—each essential for medical device design and validation. Also, the expanded roles of a policy advocate and designer-entrepreneur were essential for successful implementation into routine care. These roles are crucial for sustainable medical devices in low-resource settings but may conflict with systems reliant on stringent regulations. Securing buy-in requires ongoing stakeholder engagement. Equipping designers to perform these roles effectively remains a challenge. My experience highlights on-the-job learning and integrates formal education with practical training. Future research should explore how this combination best equips designers to design and implement new solutions.

Keywords

• designer roles and competencies
• medical device design
• circular economy
• low-resource setting
• sub-Saharan Africa
• design for environmental sustainability