Kenyan inventor makes history winning Africa’s biggest prize for engineering innovation with her vaccine fridge

Kenyan engineer Norah Magero, has won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation with Vaccibox, a small, mobile, solar-powered fridge that safely stores and transports medicines like vaccines, for use in field vaccinations and remote clinics.

Magero is the first Kenyan to win the award in its 8-year history, and the second woman.

VacciBox is a small, mobile, solar-powered fridge that safely stores and transports medicines like vaccines for use in field vaccinations and remote clinics, according to the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Magero came up with her invention after seeing how farmers she worked with in remote locations needed cold storage but lacked a reliable power supply. During the COVID-19 pandemic when healthcare workers had cold-chain challenges, her invention became useful. She designed VacciBox to chill vaccines and ensure that they reach areas where Kenya’s national grid is yet to get to.

“VacciBox was designed with our local challenges in mind. It’s versatile, reliable and localized. We’re ensuring that it works the way healthcare workers need it to work for the conditions they face each day, so that they can save lives without worrying about technology,” said Magero.