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Zambian startup, Duniya Healthcare, has been named Global Champion in the Health and Wellbeing category at the 2025 World Summit Awards (WSA), marking a historic first for the country at the prestigious United Nations-backed event held in Hyderabad, India.
The Lusaka-based firm, which operates a tech-enabled pharmaceutical logistics marketplace, connects health facilities and retail pharmacies with wholesalers and suppliers, streamlining access to essential medicines across Zambia.
This win makes Duniya the first Zambian innovation in WSA’s 20-year history to break into the Global Top 40 and the first ever to clinch the top prize in its category.
It was also the only African company to be recognized as a Global Champion at this year’s summit.
“We are incredibly honored by this recognition and proud to showcase Zambian innovation on the global stage,” said Mwansa Chalo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Duniya Healthcare.
Chalo said Duniya triumphed over strong contenders from Australia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, reflecting the startup’s growing influence in global digital health solutions.
“Our mission has always been clear — no African should die due to lack of access to essential medicines,” he said.
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In 2024, Duniya signed a landmark agreement with the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Institute to digitise procurement and medicine distribution for mission hospitals in rural Zambia.
The initiative has already led to cost savings of over 37 percent in medicines and logistics for participating facilities.
“With this global victory, Duniya Healthcare has placed Zambia firmly on the innovation map and has proven that African-led solutions can compete — and win — on the world stage,” Chalo added.
The World Summit Awards, established in 2003 during the UN World Summit on the Information Society, honors digital innovations that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s competition involved nominations from 182 UN Member States. A multi-tiered evaluation process, involving over 160 global experts and a grand jury of 22 international judges, selected 40 finalists who pitched for Global Champion titles in Hyderabad.
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