Umamah Bakharia 

African innovators never fail to impress. A recent innovation is a ‘smart bra’ that can detect breast cancer. According to its creator, Nigerian robotics engineer Kemisola Bolarinwa this device can help fight against breast cancer.

New statistics have shown that many African women do not know what cancer is or how to confront it.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Bolarinwa says the ‘smart bra’ was created for lower-income households to detect the early stages of breast cancer. “We utilise ultrasound technology for the development of the bra,” she says, adding that the developers had to look into all breast screening techniques for the best results.

“However, a mammogram is not the best option for us because we want women to be wearing this device often to detect their status, so forcing them to more radiation is dangerous to the body tissue, so we have to go for ultrasound technology,” says Bolarinwa.

The ‘smart bra’ has ultrasound technology that is put into the bra in the form of sensors that send information to a mobile application. The innovation can be worn for a maximum of 20 minutes.

According to Bolarinswa, the device was created as there is a shortage in Africa of breast detection techniques. “We are trying to solve that challenge by making this device readily available to every woman in Africa and also cost-effective,” she says.

So far, the ‘smart bra’ has detected 10 cases of breast cancer in its early stages.