MaMa Access

The current COVID-19 pandemic affects women and men differently and has worsened existing gender inequalities for women and girls particularly on accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Being on lockdowns, women has limited access to reproductive health care and posed serious threats for pregnant women of who are more likely to face delivery or unsafe abortion complications as health facilities are feared and avoided. To improve access and quality of maternal health and family planning service for women living in isolated and underserved areas of Tanzania,  we are proposing the development of   “Mama Access” (M-Access) a mobile phone health solution service using low cost technologies to improve health care of pregnant women, nursing mothers and new born in Tanzania through provision of live saving health information that is time specific,  medically accurate, easy to understand and empowering thus contribute in the eradication of maternal mortality and neonatal complications.

The current COVID-19 pandemic affects women and men differently and has worsened existing gender inequalities for women and girls particularly on accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Being on lockdowns, women has limited access to SRHR care and posed serious threats for pregnant women  who are more likely to face delivery or unsafe abortion complications as health facilities are feared and avoided. 

In Tanzania  number of women dying during pregnancy or childbirth complications that are entirely prevented due to education, follow up and Antenatal care stands at 578 deaths per 100,000 births. Still the number of women suffering injuries during child birth such as Obstetric Fistula which leaves women incontinent is  high with estimation of 3,000 new cases of Fistula annually in Tanzania alone. An estimated 450,000 Newborn dies annually in Tanzania, whereas the neonatal mortality rates are 78 per 1000 live birth. All these statistics  are expected to rise exponentially during this time of COVID-19 Outbreak as there are No channels in Tanzania to educate pregnancy women and mothers on pre-natal and post-natal care/services and still most pregnant and expectant women will never see a doctor as health facilities are feared and avoided by the majority.

  “Mama Access”  is a mobile phone health  service using low cost technologies to improve health care of pregnant women  and new born in Tanzania through provision of live saving health information that is time specific,  medically accurate, easy to understand and empowering thus contribute  the eradication of maternal mortality and neonatal complications. “Mama Access”   is a Mobile App, USSD and SMS text messages that sends customized and stage based notifications to   pregnant women with comprehensive essential pre-natal and post-natal information based on WHO guidelines for having a healthy pregnancy and birth as well as access to online doctors at the touch of a button in a real time.

To be available in English and native Swahili the  Mama Access App will help registered  pregnant women monitor their pregnancy while at home thus empower them  be active on their own health care while  giving  accurate information they can pass  to women in their communities.  The Mama Access App will relay free information based on gestation age and include tips on healthy life styles, nutritional advice, explanations of early signs and symptoms of  pregnancy, expected date of delivery, danger signs of pregnancy, breast feeding tips and what to do in  emergence situation.

Mama Access will be working with pregnant women and nursing mother providing them with essential antenatal and post-natal care  based on WHO guidelines.
Mama Access chose for SMS solution because African continent currently boasts the highest mobile telephony growth rates in the world, bringing new communication possibilities to millions of people. Simple technology like a basic SMS phone can support and strengthen the additional communication efforts by connecting pregnant women and nursing mothers to better, more accurate information in safe and faster than before even in time of pandemic or crisis.

In Tanzania number of women dying during pregnancy or childbirth complications stands at 578 deaths per 100,000 births. These statistics are expected to rise exponentially during  time of diseases outbreak/crisis as there are No channels to educate pregnancy women and mothers on pre-natal and post-natal care/services and still most pregnant women will never see a doctor.
"Mama Access”  is a mobile phone health service aiming to improve antenatal and post natal care for women in  Tanzania. We chose for App/SMS solution because Africa currently boasts  highest mobile telephony growth rates  bringing new communication possibilities to millions of people.

Mama Access chose for mobile App/SMS solution because African continent currently boasts the highest mobile telephony growth rates in the world, bringing new communication possibilities to millions of people.

Simple technology like a basic SMS phone can support and strengthen the additional communication efforts by connecting pregnant women and nursing mothers to better, more accurate information in safe and faster than before even in time of pandemic or crisis.

Mobile solutions have strong value for health care both in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and equalize the relationship between medical professional and patients.

The potential for mobile phones to reach a large and growing base of users across the continent, and to be used for development-related purposes, is becoming widely recognized, evidenced by the growing number of development-oriented projects, applications, and programs that specifically make use of mobiles.

Mama Access chose for mobile App/SMS solution because African continent currently boasts the highest mobile telephony growth rates in the world, bringing new communication possibilities to millions of people.

Simple technology like a basic SMS phone can support and strengthen the additional communication efforts by connecting pregnant women and nursing mothers to better, more accurate information in safe and faster than before even in time of pandemic or crisis.

Mobile solutions have strong value for health care both in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and equalize the relationship between medical professional and patients.

The potential for mobile phones to reach a large and growing base of users across the continent, and to be used for development-related purposes, is becoming widely recognized, evidenced by the growing number of development-oriented projects, applications, and programs that specifically make use of mobiles.

Simple technology like a basic mobile App/SMS phone can support and strengthen the additional communication efforts by connecting pregnant women and nursing mothers to better, more accurate information in safe and faster than before even in time of pandemic or crisis. For example during the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia mobile phone App and SMS were used to reach millions of people with appropriate information.

Mobile solutions have strong value for health care both in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and equalize the relationship between medical professional and patients.

The potential for mobile phones to reach a large and growing base of users across the continent, and to be used for development-related purposes, is becoming widely recognized, evidenced by the growing number of development-oriented projects, applications, and programs that specifically make use of mobiles.

Mama Access chose for mobile App/SMS solution because African continent currently boasts the highest mobile telephony growth rates in the world, bringing new communication possibilities to millions of people.

Simple technology like a basic SMS phone can support and strengthen the additional communication efforts by connecting pregnant women and nursing mothers to better, more accurate information in safe and faster than before even in time of pandemic or crisis.

Mobile solutions have strong value for health care both in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and equalize the relationship between medical professional and patients.

The potential for mobile phones to reach a large and growing base of users across the continent, and to be used for development-related purposes, is becoming widely recognized, evidenced by the growing number of development-oriented projects, applications, and programs that specifically make use of mobiles.

Target 1: By June 2021 provide and increase access to both antenatal and post natal care to 5000 women by at least 70% thus reduce maternal mortality rate to women living in Isolated, Undeserved and those affected by pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak and other Crisis in In Tanzania.  
                
  Target 2:  By June 2021, provide more than 5000 nursing mothers in Tanzania with appropriate Health Care messaging about their children thus reduces neonatal complications by at least 70%.

Target 1: By June 2021 provide and increase access to both

antenatal and post natal care to 5000 women by at least 70% thus reduce
maternal mortality rate to women living in Isolated, Undeserved and
those affected by pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak and other Crisis in In
Tanzania.  
                
  Target 2:  By June 2021, provide more than 5000 nursing mothers
in Tanzania with appropriate Health Care messaging about their children
thus reduces neonatal complications by at least 70%.

Lack of enough funds for product development is the greatest barrier.

We are looking forward to search for more partners and donors to support the development of our product.

A total of 5 staff will be working full time on our solution.

I will be working with my organization Youth against Barriers to implement the proposed project. Our team will consist of 5 people each with a different expertise; Dr. Irene Kawiche an Obstetrician and Gynecologist Resident shall be working as the project officer whose responsibilities will include; designing maternal health and family planning messages as well as providing technical information. As an inspiring communicator she has the ability to tailor messages to different target groups, to engage and listen and have the flexibility to adapt to changes which is necessary for project cohesiveness.

 Daniel Masaba will be working as a chief Technology officer, he is a software Developer with 4 years’ experience working in mobile health, public health and medical research.

Alex Kakulu our Graphic designer is an experienced ICT and has worked in the industry of software development for 3 years.

Neema Richard is a sociologist Passionate about reproductive health rights  and will be working as the project coordinator maintaining regular communications with beneficiaries and other project stakeholders.

No any.

The revenue stream for the project are based upon either a per phone  registration or per user license. Soft ware  pricing models such as subscription fees versus license  user models are considered and depend upon the mobile company preference. To ensure sustainability a small subscriber payments will be charged by the Company .

In the case that a licensed user model is used, residual income is expected when first aid protocols change. The protocols change 3-5 years.

On the long term on going costs include technical support, soft ware maintenance, translation or debugging.  Earned income are expected to be exponentially higher than these  operating  costs due to the size of the market and expected penetration of the innovation. Initial analysis shoes operating costs would be equal or less than 35% of earned income or revenue.

To ensure project sustainability Clients and other users will be charged a small subscription fees to ensure maintenance charges and longer term operation of the operation.