Recognizing that new approaches to health delivery challenges often start at the local level, the Pfizer Foundation Global Health Innovation Grants program provides funding and technical assistance to local innovators and social enterprises to strengthen health systems at the community and primary care levels. To date, the program has provided technical support for 23 social enterprises and innovators across 16 countries – reaching more than 1.2 million patients with improved primary care services.

In 2019, the 20 grants awarded by the Pfizer Foundation¹ focused on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, with an emphasis on reducing child mortality, addressing antimicrobial resistance and strengthening primary care to better address infectious diseases. Recipients of the $100,000 one-year grants include Muso, which will support clinicians at community health centers to better diagnose and treat preventable diseases like malaria and pneumonia in Mali, UE LifeSciences, which will utilize an artificial intelligence-enabled, hand-held, wireless mobile colposcope to detect the human papillomavirus during cervical cancer screenings in India, and Care 2 Communities, which will work to improve prevention and care of pediatric acute respiratory infection in Haiti.

These grants reflect Pfizer’s expanded commitment to infectious diseases and reducing health disparities.

“Infectious diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide and often perpetuate the cycle of poverty,” says Caroline Roan, President, The Pfizer Foundation. “Helping nimble, non-governmental organizations and social enterprises is an effective way to rethink how we approach innovation in underserved communities. We’re proud to collaborate with our on-the-ground partners to identify breakthroughs that truly impact patients.”