Mental health is a taboo subject in most African societies. Yet, according to a 2017 report by the World Health Organization, more than 29 million Africans suffer from depression.

Nguvu is an e-health solution developed by a Nigerian startup. It gives users access to mental health experts online.

"Our customers are able to communicate – via text, audio, and video – directly in-app with their therapists and are able to schedule live video sessions with their matched therapists. This is particularly useful at such a time as this, post-pandemic. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made mental health therapy more important than ever," explained Joshua Koya, Nguvu's co-founder, and CEO, in December 2021.

Users can access the services offered by the e-health startup using either its Android/iOS apps or by visiting its web platform. They can register, pass a test, and eventually get connected to a therapist. They can also choose between video consultations or text therapy. Currently, the Nguvu Android app has been downloaded more than 10,000 times on Playstore.

Let's note that some of the services offered by Nguvu are free. They include for instance free mental health screening. Meanwhile, additional text therapy services cost NGN3,000 (about US$6.5) weekly, NGN10,000 monthly, NGN27,000 quarterly, and NGN100,000 annually. For video therapies, each session cost NGN7,500 while the 4-session bundle costs NGN27,000.

For the time being, Nguvu operates in Nigeria and Kenya and dreams of conquering the world in the coming years. "Our vision is to extensively build tech solutions that revolve around preventing mental disorders from happening and correcting existing disorders," Joshua Koya indicates.

Adoni Conrad Quenum