The SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IPE Global, has committed INR 1.5 Crore (USD 1,88,529) to Clensta to enhance access to affordable health and hygiene products in healthcare facilities and other touchpoints in tier 2 and 3 regions, and in vulnerable pockets of tier 1 cities.

According to the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquire healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) while being treated for other health issues. More than 98,000 of these patients (one in 17) die from HCAIs. These metrics are more pronounced in low-to-middle-income countries (LMIC), including India, with 1 in 10 infected in healthcare facilities. Moreover, in the low-resource settings of tier 2 and 3 cities, the threat of contamination in hospitals is often compounded by acute water shortages. 

Clensta is an award-winning, Gurgaon-based start-up incubated at IIT Delhi, committed to exploring better ways to solve people's everyday problems. Their novel waterless technology enables cleansing and disinfection of the entire body without water. Technologies, such as Prolonged Antiviral Protection (PAP), were developed to provide better protection against COVID and other microbial infections. These products assist with the cleanliness and hygiene of bedridden individuals or patients in ICU care without water, making their application ideal for low-resource settings.

The waterless solutions have been successfully deployed in hospital settings across India and to the Indian Armed Forces – Navy, Army, and CRPF. Clensta also manufactures a unique body lotion and long-lasting hand sanitizers that offer additional protection from viral contamination.

The partnership with SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility will enable Clensta to expand its sales force and strengthen the distribution channels to make its hygiene products available to over 2,100 nursing homes, clinics, pharmacies, hospitals and other touchpoints such as direct purchases by central government agencies and PSUs thereby reducing healthcare-acquired infections and democratizing the personal hygiene index across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India.

Mr. Himanshu Sikka, Project Director, SAMRIDH and Chief Strategy and Diversification Officer, IPE Global, highlighted the importance of this partnership, and said, “At SAMRIDH, we are committed to support scale-up of innovations and market solutions to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities. Through our partnership with Clensta, we aim to reduce the risk factor of patients in tier 2 and 3 cities by enabling healthcare facilities to access affordable waterless hygiene and medicated products. Mainstreaming Clensta’s waterless technology can be a game changer in these locations where acute water shortages have been a long-standing challenge.”

In our mission to enhance access to innovative sustainable products for underserved communities, we are excited to support Clensta in making their products available in Tier 2 and 3 cities at affordable prices by establishing direct distribution channels. We are hopeful that the waterless technology innovation will be a game changer for maintaining hygiene standards at medical facilities in these locations with acute water shortages.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility supported healthcare enterprises and innovators across India by implementing market-based health solutions. It provides grants and facilitates debt financing to healthcare initiatives to support the scale-up of high-impact health solutions that can improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable communities.

Speaking about the collaboration between Clensta and SAMRIDH, Puneet Gupta, Founder, Clensta said, “The purpose behind our healthcare portfolio: waterless and COVID protection products has always been a thoughtful one, to ensure we protect as many individuals as possible from the same challenges I have faced or seen people face in my journey. This collaboration will help us solve problems on a wider scale. The waterless portfolio will ensure that there are very low chances of hospital-acquired infections in vulnerable areas, thus taking us a step further to achieving a better world. The validation from supporting SAMRIDH also proves that our healthcare portfolio is truly innovative; this step is crucial as it will help us serve more and more people through other partnerships.”

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ABOUT THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)

USAID is the U.S. Government’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey. In India, USAID collaborates with the country’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. To learn more, visit www.usaid.gov/india

ABOUT THE SAMRIDH HEALTHCARE BLENDED FINANCE FACILITY

SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility is supported by the United States Agency for International Development in technical collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission & Women Entrepreneurship Platform, NITI Aayog, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, the National Health Authority, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Rockefeller Foundation, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, Caspian Debt and NATHEALTH, and is managed by IPE Global.  Through this initiative, SAMRIDH combines commercial capital with public and philanthropic funds to drive greater resources towards market-based health solutions that can improve access to affordable and quality healthcare services for India’s most vulnerable.

SAMRIDH is recognised among ‘India’s top 50 COVID-19 last mile responders’ by the World Economic Forum. The initiative is also the winner of the P3 Impact Award 2022 led by the Office of Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State, Concordia, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society. To learn more, visit www.samridhhealth.org

ABOUT IPE GLOBAL LIMITED (IPE GLOBAL)

IPE Global is an international development consulting group - the largest in South Asia - providing technical assistance and solutions for equitable development and sustainable growth in developing countries. Headquartered in New Delhi, India with seven international offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Philippines and United Kingdom, the Group offers a range of integrated, innovative and high-quality consulting services across several sectors and practices. These include Health, Nutrition & WASH, Social Economic Empowerment, Urban & Infrastructure Growth and, Education & Skills Development to name a few. IPE Global has successfully undertaken over 1000 assignments in over 100 countries and, over the years, has transformed the lives of over 600 million people globally. To learn more, visit www.ipeglobal.com

ABOUT CLENSTA

Clensta started its journey in 2016 in scientific collaboration with IIT Delhi. Since its inception, they are plunged into providing a unique value proposition through ESG-compassionate products that are innovative, effective, affordable, and sustainable. Being the curator of the Waterless category, the brand is now focusing on providing a comprehensive solution for the family, covering your home, health, hygiene or personal care from the eldest to the youngest one by developing further technologies such as STAR (Safe Transdermal Absorption of Reactive ingredients) and CRAN (Complete Release of Active Nutrients). So far, Clensta has developed 5+ Technologies and filed 21+ Patents catering to 75+ products and planning to launch 65+ products this year. Their products are US-FDA registered and are gaining acceptance in USA, Africa and South-East Asia. Being in a differentiating space, Clensta has contributed to saving nearly 800 million litres of water and reducing 300% lesser carbon footprints per kilos of plastic.

The Company has been a recipient of multiple awards including the National Award and has received appreciation from the Honorable President, Shri. Ram Nath Kovind. Keeping one eye on the future, Clensta aims to develop ecologically-ethical products which contribute to a better world.

To learn more, visit www.clensta.com