Patient Baraka (Botanica Repellent)

Patient Baraka is the co-founder of Botanica Repellent (Botanica), a Uganda-based business that produces natural mosquito-repelling body jelly in an effort to create a malaria-free Africa. 

Botanica Repellent produces a natural mosquito repellent, pictured above.

Patient, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, became interested in how herbal remedies could heal a community through watching his grandfather–who was an expert herbal doctor. 

“He influenced me at my younger age,” said Patient, “up to when I decided to follow chemistry and biology at my high school so that I could contribute to and help my communities overall health someday.” 

the story behind the mission

In 2016, after Patient and his younger sister had to flee the country and became refugees in Uganda, he watched his sister fall ill with malaria.

“She was about to die and there was no option to pay for her medication,” explained Patient. “One woman took care of her medication bill and got healed. It was in that scenario that I thought of ways to develop a remedy [to protect] against malaria.” 

After getting settled in Uganda, Patient began doing research on the prevalence of malaria in Uganda and beyond. He learned that malaria leads to the death of a child every two minutes and that children under the age of five in sub saharan countries are the most affected due to a lack of access to resources, both according to the World Health Organization. These heartbreaking stats launched Patient’s idea for Botanica, tackling malaria prevention among the most affected communities. 

Patient’s team at an event spreading awareness about malaria prevention.

Botanica Repellent in the Because Accelerator

In the fall of 2021, Patient joined the Because Accelerator in an effort to better define his business model in a way that would increase revenue and grow impact in the community. At the time, Botanica was a two-person team, but they have since grown to employ 10 individuals full-time. 

In addition to growing his team, Patient has gone on to do great things since completing the Because Accelerator, including partnering with organizations such as the Global Refugee Youth Network to get more families access to his products. In five years, he hopes to have established partnerships with clinics, hotels and NGOs across East Africa to tackle malaria together. 

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and business in areas impacted by poverty.