The founder of MeloraHealth, Sylvernus Akubo, has called for greater access to affordable and professional mental healthcare across Africa, saying technology can play a critical role in removing barriers that prevent people from seeking help.

Sylvernus, who is leading the digital healthcare platform, said many Africans are increasingly willing to discuss issues such as anxiety, depression, burnout and emotional wellbeing, but access to appropriate care remains a major challenge.

According to him, knowing that one needs help is often easier than finding where and how to receive it.

“When someone is ready to ask for help, finding professional support should not be another barrier they have to overcome,” Sylvernus said.

MeloraHealth connects users with professional mental healthcare services, with a focus on making support more accessible regardless of location or other traditional barriers to care.

Sylvernus said the company’s approach is centred on people rather than technology, stressing that digital platforms should complement, rather than replace, the human element of healthcare.

“Technology should make human care easier to reach, not make it less human,” he said.

The company is also expanding its services to include on-demand physical therapy, reflecting Sylvernus’ broader view of mental healthcare, one where virtual and physical care can work together rather than exist as completely separate experiences.

Maternal mental health is among the areas highlighting the need for improved access. A 2024 systematic review estimated that postpartum depressive symptoms affect about 22.1 per cent of women across sub-Saharan Africa.

Sylvernus said stigma, cost, distance and limited awareness continue to discourage many people from seeking professional support.

Beyond individual users, MeloraHealth provides Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and is exploring partnerships with institutions, government and other organisations to extend access to care.

The founder noted that building effective healthcare solutions for Africa requires an understanding of the continent’s cultural and socioeconomic diversity.

“Africa is culturally diverse, and the way people understand and talk about mental health varies across communities. Access has to be accompanied by care that understands those realities,” he said.

MeloraHealth operates with a multidisciplinary team spanning, clinical expertise, strategy and operations. Victor Ukim, who leads Corporate Strategy & Growth, helps shape the company’s growth and partnerships, while founding engineer Lawrence Obidike contributes to the technology and infrastructure behind the platform. Co-Founder Omolayo Junaid brings an operational and strategic perspective to the organisation as it continues to grow.

The company’s clinical direction is led by Dr Oscar Victor Oyogho, Clinical Director and a lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), whose clinical and academic experience helps strengthen MeloraHealth’s focus on professional standards and quality of care.

The platform has reportedly provided support to more than 1,000 people.

Sylvernus said the company’s long-term ambition is to become a household name for mental healthcare in Africa while contributing to broader efforts to make professional support easier to access.

“We cannot solve Africa’s mental healthcare challenges alone. It will require clinicians, governments, employers, communities and technology companies working together,” he said.