Zambia's 15 Year Old Innovator Creates Life-changing Sunscreen For People With Albinism.
Zambia's sun-kissed landscape poses a serious risk to individuals with albinism, who face a heightened risk of skin cancer.
But 15-year-old Mwape Chimpampa is changing that with her groundbreaking innovation, an organic sunscreen designed specifically for people with albinism.
Chimpampa’s motivation comes from a personal experience as her father died of skin cancer in 2017, a tragedy that could have been prevented with access to affordable sunscreen.
Determined to honor her father's memory, Chimpampa set out to create a solution that would make sun protection accessible to all.
The Zambia Research and Development Center (ZRDC) recognized Chimpampa's project as one of the best at the 2024 National Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists (JETS) Competition.
The center has since taken her project under its incubation program, providing mentorship, technical expertise, and funding to refine and scale up production.
Chimpampa's innovative sunscreen has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 22, exceeding the recommended SPF 15 for individuals with albinism.
Made from locally sourced organic ingredients, the sunscreen is effective, sustainable, and affordable. Its easy-to-use spray form makes it suitable for various skin types.
Meanwhile, ZRDC’s Dr. Chisala Bwalya says the project represents a significant step towards addressing an equitable healthcare challenge in Zambia.
Dr. Bwalya echoed that the Sunscreen is crucial for people with albinism, but its high cost and unavailability make it inaccessible to many, adding that the development of the sunscreen involved collaboration with dermatologists, healthcare professionals, local farmers, and suppliers.
ZRDC is working with investors and manufacturing partners to scale up production and ensure widespread availability.
Dr. Bwalya emphasized the importance of supporting local healthcare product manufacturing.
He urged national parliaments to adopt policies encouraging innovation, providing grants and tax incentives, and fostering public-private partnerships.
And the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms. Boemo Sekgoma, praised Chimpampa's project, saying, "This is commendable applied research that seeks to solve practical problems by applying scientific knowledge to current and emerging issues affecting citizens."
With approximately 30,000 people living with albinism in Zambia, Chimpampa's innovation has the potential to save lives, create jobs, and inspire young innovators.
As Chimpampa herself hopes, "This will reduce the risk of skin cancer for thousands of people living with albinism in our country."