Technology: a secret weapon to save the lives of mothers and children in Africa?
On April 7, 2025, the world celebrated World Health Day, marking the launch of a year-long campaign focused on maternal and neonatal health, aptly titled “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures".
This initiative aims to galvanize governments and healthcare professionals into action, pushing them to intensify efforts to prevent avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths. The ultimate goal is to promote sustainable health and well-being for women.
Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer in Maternal Healthcare
In sub-Saharan Africa, maternal and child health remains a significant challenge. However, technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), offers promising solutions. The Hub for Artificial Intelligence in Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health in Africa (HASH) is at the forefront of this effort, supporting ten projects across seven African countries. These initiatives integrate responsible AI solutions to bolster healthcare systems and enhance sexual and reproductive health.
mDoc Project in Nigeria: Utilizes advanced language models to provide personalized and accessible information on sexually transmitted infections in local languages and English.
"Disrumpere" Project in Rwanda: Employs a portable AI-powered ultrasound probe, enabling non-specialists to track pregnancies accurately and affordably after a short f training.
Telemedicine: Expanding Access to Healthcare
Telemedicine has emerged as a valuable tool for improving healthcare access in remote areas. Initiatives like the Francophone Africa Telemedicine Network (RAFT), established in the early 2000s, have shown immense potential in enhancing maternal and child health. RAFT connects isolated rural hospitals with urban specialist doctors for remote consultations and continuous training.
Challenges and Opportunities
While technology holds vast potential, challenges persist, including limited internet access and high digital infrastructure costs.
Nevertheless, the synergy between AI and telemedicine presents enormous opportunities for improving maternal and neonatal health in Africa.
With targeted investments and increased collaboration among governments, researchers, and practitioners, technology could become a powerful tool for saving lives and securing a brighter future for women and children on the continent .
What are your thoughts ?
This newsletter post is written by Dr. Anifa Kalay, founder of KALKIS Health Solutions/Solutions en Santé KALKIS, a social enterprise based in Ottawa.
Its mission is to contribute to addressing health inequalities in Canada and around the world by providing educational resources for healthcare professionals and researchers , as well as consulting services in health project development and management for organizations and individuals.
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