Startups provide vital shot in the arm for MENA health sector

Startups provide vital shot in the arm for MENA health sector

Bahrain-based Saaya Health aims to bring affordable, culturally relevant mental health solutions to GCC consumers. The move follows its significant success in the B2B space, where it has employee assistance agreements with pharmaceuticals leader Bayer and cosmetics major L'Oreal. "Access to good-quality and culturally appropriate mental health support is rare in this market, including corporate mental health and employee assistance programs," company founder Sarmad Ahmad said. "There was "” and sometimes still is "” a stigma around the words 'mental health.' The coronavirus pandemic has really put our emotions in sharp focus as we have all had had time for introspection. As people look to improve their relationships, their habits, tackle stress and improve performance at work, the demand is rising for good-quality counsellors and therapists." Saaya Health's services are delivered online in seven countries, with 52 therapists providing counselling in 12 languages, including Arabic, French, Pashto, Malayalam, Hausa and Swahili. With its corporate partnerships, the company offers digital mental health services to more than 700,000 individuals. "Our long-term goal is to be an impact unicorn, serving a billion people globally. Bahrain, with its strong digital infrastructure, will serve as our base to launch a three-year plan to reach at