Field, a leading African healthtech company, has launched an $11m initiative to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria and Kenya.
The programme aimed to introduce emerging therapies and transform supply chains to combat Africa’s most urgent health priorities, the startup said in a statement on Tuesday.
In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Field will leverage its proprietary technology, distribution, and financing services to power a network of over 40,000 private and public healthcare providers.
It added that the initiative would focus on tackling maternal mortality, newborn and child health, and nutrition.
According to the World Health Organisation, Africa accounted for 69 per cent of global maternal deaths in 2020, with Nigeria representing 29 per cent of all maternal deaths worldwide.
The healthcare company revealed that it would provide expectant mothers access to life-saving therapies, including heat-stable carbetocin and calibrated drapes, which detect and treat postpartum haemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal mortality in Africa.
According to the firm, the platform will accelerate new interventions, support established therapies and address related complications like preeclampsia.
With the initiative, Field said aimed to make a significant impact on reducing maternal mortality rates in Africa.
Since its inception in 2015, Field noted that it has facilitated over 800 million health interventions across more than 60 therapeutic areas, including family planning, HIV, and tuberculosis.
According to the startup, the consequences of poor or nonexistent maternal health services will affect the most vulnerable sections of Africa’s population.
The Chief Executive Officer of Field, Michael Moreland, stated, “This is public health powered by technology, and today’s news recognises the products and services that Field has built over the past eight years scaled and integrated into large-scale public health programs; this is what we believe health technology companies should be doing; joining innovative, impactful coalitions between private and public entities.
“Digitally powering, networking, and financing health systems at scale will have an overwhelmingly positive effect on access to quality care. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are set to rapidly improve mother and child survival in every setting.”
Some global pharma and health companies have exited the continent in the past 18 months.
Moreland added, “We have seen genuine, meaningful gains being made in healthcare delivery outcomes. However, in this current tough economic climate, without coordinated systems and processes, progress will slow or slip.
“Alongside our funders, our role is to ensure this doesn’t happen because the problems the healthcare space is facing will not be solved on its own. This is where Field and its funders come in, and we’re excited to get to work on this technology-powered infrastructure blueprint for public health services.”