Tito Ipinmoye RD, founder of TNN Africa shares how she is treating metabolic disorders in Africa through Telehealth.
- Can you please tell our audience about yourself?
My name is Tito Ipinmoye, I am a clinical dietitian and culinary expert on a mission to help people manage diet-related chronic illnesses effectively through the right diet interventions. I am the founder of The Nutrition Network Africa, with four arms that cut across the entirety of the nutrition industry.
- Hutano Africa, for instance, is a nutrition clinic aimed at helping Africans manage chronic illnesses with the right diet intervention.
- Tiko Africa is a digital community for nutriprenuers across Africa.
- Tarenda is a service as a business, and
- Sito is SAAS software for dietitians.
I started my career as a clinical nutritionist in 2016, and I have always been interested in exploring the possibilities in the healthcare value chain as regards to nutrition. I am passionate about creating more opportunities for dietitians like myself.
In 2020, I met my co-founder who spoke about the future of healthcare and the need to leverage digital technology for diet interventions, and that was the spark that birthed The Nutrition Network Africa.
- Can you tell our audience about Hutano Africa?
Hutano Africa, a part of The Nutrition Network Africa, is a female-only team based in Lagos, Nigeria. We provide virtual nutrition support and diet therapy to individuals across Africa managing nutrition-related illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney diseases, and some cancers.
Our goal is to provide diet interventions to Africans at their convenience so that more people have better access to care and support from healthcare professionals.
Hutano Africa was established in response to my realization of a diet intervention gap in the healthcare value chain and the need for more accessible care.
Our motivation is to reduce preventable and manageable diseases and provide more accessible care to those in need.
- What problem is Hutano Africa solving & how?
Nutrition-related chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases are a significant problem in Africa, accounting for 28% of all deaths. Unfortunately, in many underserved or rural areas, there is a severe lack of access to nutrition support services. Without the Hutano Africa Telehealth platform, many people in these areas struggle to access information and resources related to healthy eating habits, food preparation, and disease prevention. This lack of access can have significant consequences for individuals and communities, leading to a higher prevalence of nutrition-related chronic illnesses and poorer health outcomes overall.
Hutano Africa is tackling this issue using technology and a patient-centric approach to provide personalized nutrition plans and diet interventions via their virtual clinic.
With a multidisciplinary team of dietitians, doctors, and other healthcare professionals, patients can receive holistic care that addresses all aspects of their health.
Hutano Africa’s use of technology also enables patients to track their progress, receive real-time feedback, and connect with their dietitians when needed. By providing cost-effective and accessible care, Hutano Africa is empowering patients to take control of their health and wellbeing.
- What have been the biggest achievements of TNN Africa?
As a telehealth platform dedicated to providing accessible nutrition support and diet interventions to patients with chronic illnesses, Hutano Africa has served thousands of patients across various regions in Africa. Some of the areas where we have provided our services include Nigeria, Ghana South Africa, and Sierra Leone, among others.
One of the benefits of the Hutano Africa App is that it allows us to overcome geographical barriers and reach patients who may not have access to in-person nutrition support services. This means that we can serve patients in both rural and urban areas, and our team of passionate individuals is dedicated to ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care.
While our focus is on sustainable growth, we are committed to expanding our reach and serving as many patients as possible. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, and we will continue to work towards this goal through our innovative telehealth platform and dedicated team of healthcare professionals.
- What have been the biggest challenges in building TNN Africa & how did you overcome them?
Money, talent, and market fit have been major frustrations for me. But, there are ways to tackle these problems. To overcome these challenges, I started to network more and build relationships with potential investors or partners.
We leveraged LinkedIn to post job openings and engage with the tech community. Other platforms that were helpful included freelancing websites like Upwork and Freelancer. On the other hand, some platforms were not as helpful. We found that some social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were not as effective for reaching out to tech talents. Additionally, some online job boards were not as reliable, as they often produced a large volume of unqualified candidates.
Through utilizing these online platforms, we were able to solve a variety of problems, such as hiring tech talents with the right skills and experience for our startup. We also conducted market research to better understand the needs and preferences of our target market, which helped us develop a product that met their needs. In terms of funding, we were able to connect and speak with potential investors and we have our fingers crossed about future investment. Overall, online platforms played a significant role in the success of our startup.
- How do you anticipate technology will change healthcare in the next 5 years?
As a virtual clinic, we are excited about using innovative technologies such as AI, mobile apps, and wearables to enhance our services and improve patient engagement.
One of our main priorities is to expand our mobile offerings, which will allow us to provide more comprehensive care to our patients. We plan to integrate more telemedicine capabilities into our existing App, allowing patients to connect with our healthcare professionals remotely for consultations, follow-up appointments, and other healthcare needs.
We also plan to further leverage AI technology to improve our diagnostic capabilities and provide more personalized care to our patients. By analyzing patient data and using predictive analytics, we identify potential health issues and provide proactive interventions to prevent complications and improve patient outcomes.
In addition to telemedicine and AI, our mobile app allows patients to have access to their healthcare information, schedule appointments, and communicate with our healthcare professionals. This app provides patients with greater convenience and flexibility, as well as a more personalized and streamlined healthcare experience.
Finally, we are looking to explore the use of wearable technology to monitor patients’ health and collect data on their activity levels, heart rate, and other vital signs. This technology will allow us to provide more proactive and personalized care to our patients, identifying potential health issues before they become more serious.
Overall, we are committed to leveraging innovative technologies to enhance our services and improve patient engagement. We believe that these technologies have the potential to transform healthcare and provide more accessible, personalized, and effective care to patients.
- What are your favorite educational resources, and how have they influenced you?
I listen to several podcasts regularly to gain insights and knowledge on various aspects of running a business. One of the podcasts I listen to is hosted by Vusi Thembekwayo, a well-known entrepreneur and business speaker. I find his podcast informative as he shares practical tips and advice on business strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, I listen to podcasts on nutrition and healthcare-related topics to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.
- Do you have any other message for our readers?
At The Nutrition Network Africa, we’re on a mission to transform the health and wellness of people across Africa through the power of nutrition. Our team of skilled dietitians work tirelessly to create personalized meal plans, nutrition education programs, and ongoing support to help individuals manage chronic conditions and make positive lifestyle changes.
As a founder with a unique background in both medicine and culinary arts, I’ve had to learn some tech skills along the way to ensure our success. And it’s paid off – with a female-only team, we’ve bootstrapped our way to profitability and continue to grow.
If you’re ready to join us on our mission to improve health and wellness across Africa, check out our website and become a part of our community today.
Contact details for Tito Ipinmoye RD and TNN Africa
Business website: www.thehutano.com / www.tnnafrica.com
Business phone and email: +234 8134501747, hello@tnnafrica.com
Business Social Media links:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nutrition-network-africa/
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hutano-africa/
Personal Social Media Links:
