Last Mile Care as a Service

The specific problem we are tackling is the limited access to healthcare and the vulnerability of health systems during challenging times. This issue is especially prominent in African communities, where resources are often scarce, and people face multiple barriers to receiving adequate care.

In Africa, healthcare inequalities persist, with many individuals lacking essential health services. Millions of people across the continent do not have access to proper healthcare, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the disparities in vaccine distribution. Non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, are also a significant concern, contributing to the burden on healthcare systems.

In our African context, we recognize the challenges faced by communities in remote areas and marginalized populations. Geographical barriers, limited infrastructure, and financial constraints make it difficult for them to access healthcare services that many of us take for granted.

To address these challenges, our solution, Last Mile Care as a Service, leverages solar-powered mobile clinics that are designed specifically for African communities. These mobile clinics are equipped to provide essential healthcare services, including vaccinations, NCD management, and general healthcare needs. By bringing healthcare directly to the people, we eliminate the need for them to travel long distances or incur significant expenses to receive medical attention.

Our solution is rooted in an African human-centered approach. We work closely with community health workers and local healthcare providers to ensure that the services we deliver are culturally sensitive and tailored to the specific needs of the communities we serve. By empowering the local workforce and engaging community stakeholders, we foster sustainability and long-term impact.

Last Mile Care as a Service is not just about providing medical care—it's about restoring hope, dignity, and resilience to African communities. By improving healthcare access, we aim to uplift lives, strengthen health systems, and create a brighter and healthier future for all Africans.

Our solution, Last Mile Care as a Service, is a true fusion of human compassion and innovative technology, tailored specifically for the African context. We bring healthcare services directly to the hearts of underserved communities through solar-powered mobile clinics. No one should be left behind or merely survive when it comes to their health and well-being.

Imagine the impact when our mobile clinics, powered by the African sun, arrive in remote areas where healthcare is scarce. These clinics become beacons of hope, delivering comprehensive care that encompasses vital aspects of health. We address the pressing needs of the communities we serve, starting with Covid vaccination coverage. We understand the urgency to protect lives from this relentless pandemic.

But we don't stop there. Our mobile clinics are equipped to tackle the burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer that affect countless African individuals and families. We provide screenings, diagnostics, treatments, and support to manage these conditions effectively.

Moreover, we extend our reach to safeguard the future of African children. Our clinics offer HPV vaccination and child immunization services, ensuring that the youngest members of our communities receive the protection they deserve against preventable diseases.

To make all this possible, we employ the power of technology and data. By analyzing population data, patient information, disease mapping, and vaccination coverage rates, we optimize the routing of our mobile healthcare units. This way, we can focus our efforts on areas with the greatest need and lowest healthcare access. We aim to bridge the gaps and leave no one behind.

Our solar-powered mobile clinics are more than mere healthcare facilities on wheels. They represent the strength, sustainability, and progress of Africa, where people value human connections and communities unite to uplift one another. We prioritize cultural nuances that exist and tailor our services to meet the specific needs of each community we serve. Through collaboration with local healthcare providers and community health workers, we empower them to drive positive change. 

Our Ubuntu approach harmonizes technology and humanity, ensuring that lives don't just endure, but flourish. By reshaping the narrative of healthcare access, we are turning the vision of accessible care for all Africans into a vibrant reality.

Our solution, Last Mile Care as a Service, is designed to serve underserved communities, particularly in low-resource settings in Kenya. These communities are often situated in remote areas and face numerous challenges in accessing quality healthcare services. They include marginalized populations, women, children, persons living with disabilities and individuals living in poverty.

These communities are currently underserved due to various factors, including geographical barriers, limited healthcare facilities, medical personnel, and equipment, lack of vaccination coverage, and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

Our solution addresses these challenges by utilizing solar-powered mobile clinics to bring healthcare services directly to these communities. By using advanced technology and big data analytics, we optimize the routing of the mobile healthcare units to ensure maximum coverage in specific counties and sub-counties.

The mobile clinics provide a range of essential healthcare services, including Covid vaccination coverage, screening and diagnostics, treatment for non-communicable diseases, HPV vaccination, and child immunization. By bringing these services closer to the communities that need them the most, we are improving the resilience of the health system and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services.

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution because of our longstanding relationships with the target communities and local government. We have a deep understanding of their challenges and healthcare needs. Our Team Lead and members are representative of these communities, bringing ownership to our approach.

To ensure a tailored solution, we actively engage the communities throughout the design and implementation process. We value their input, ideas, and agendas, recognizing their expertise on their own healthcare needs. Community consultations, involving leaders, healthcare providers, and affected individuals, provide valuable insights.

Our approach is guided by data, optimizing mobile clinic routes based on population, disease mapping, and vaccination rates. We collect and analyze data to continually evaluate and refine our services.

With our proximity, technology and healthcare expertise, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making, we are well-equipped to meaningfully address healthcare access challenges for the target population.

Our ability to color outside the lines while respecting the boundaries ensures that we create sustainable and effective solutions that truly address the needs of the target population.

Through our commitment to business unusual and our ability to design outside the box, we are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of healthcare access challenges and deliver a solution that goes beyond traditional approaches.

Currently we are in 5 counties in Kenya, conducting COVID-19 vaccination and screening for non-communicable diseases: diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cancer.

The counties are: Kisii, Nyamira, Home Bay, Kajiado and Narok

Community Reach: 80,000 (30,000 for COVID-19 Vaccination & 50,000 for NCD surveillance)

Health Workforce Training: 1000 Community Health Workers and 100 Health Providers who will run a Training of Trainers (ToT) model.

We are applying to Solve because we believe in the power of collaboration and the potential for partnerships to drive meaningful change. Solve's mission aligns closely with our vision of bridging the gap in healthcare access and reaching more people in need. We are not solely seeking financial support but also aiming to leverage the Solve platform to forge valuable connections, gain partnerships, and enhance the branding of our mobile clinic.

One of the barriers we face is the need to expand our reach and impact. By connecting with Solve, we hope to tap into their network of like-minded organizations, experts, and potential collaborators who can help us extend our services to more communities. Through these connections, we can access valuable resources, expertise, and knowledge that will enable us to scale our operations effectively.

Another challenge we encounter is the continuous improvement of our data insights and disease surveillance models. We recognize the importance of data in driving evidence-based healthcare decisions and optimizing our services. Solve's network can connect us with data scientists and technical experts who can assist us in refining our data models, analyzing the collected data, and generating actionable insights. With enhanced data capabilities, we can strengthen our disease surveillance efforts, identify healthcare gaps, and tailor our interventions to the specific needs of each community.

Financial support is also crucial for us to realize our goals. Solve's platform provides opportunities for accessing funding and support from partners who share our vision. This support would enable us to invest in technology infrastructure, equip telemedicine capabilities, expand our mobile clinic fleet, and enhance our overall operational capacity. With additional financial resources, we can sustain and scale our services, ensuring that more underserved communities have access to the healthcare they deserve.

Through Solve, we hope to embark on a transformative journey, where storytelling meets impactful solutions. We believe that by joining forces with Solve and its network, we can amplify our impact, make a difference in more lives, and create a lasting legacy of equitable healthcare access. Together, we can forge a path towards a brighter and healthier future for communities in need.

Our solution, Last Mile Care as a Service, brings innovation to the healthcare access landscape in several ways. Firstly, our use of solar-powered mobile clinics equipped with advanced technology allows us to reach remote and underserved communities that have limited access to healthcare. This approach overcomes geographical barriers and ensures that healthcare services are brought directly to those who need them most.

Secondly, our data-driven optimization of mobile clinic routes is a significant innovation. By leveraging population data, disease mapping, vaccination coverage rates, and other relevant factors, we can strategically plan the routes to maximize healthcare coverage and prioritize areas with the greatest need. This approach enables us to efficiently allocate resources and reach underserved populations effectively.

Additionally, our focus on comprehensive healthcare services within the mobile clinics is another aspect of our innovation. By addressing a range of healthcare needs, including Covid vaccination coverage, non-communicable diseases, and generic healthcare services, we provide holistic care to the communities we serve. This comprehensive approach improves health outcomes, reduces the burden on healthcare systems, and ensures that individuals receive the necessary care in a timely manner.

Furthermore, our crowdfunding approach adds another layer of innovation to our solution. By involving the public and stakeholders in health, we create a revenue model that fosters community participation and ownership. Through a cost-sharing model between users and their communities, we promote sustainability and empower individuals to take an active role in their healthcare. Health vouchers and revolving funds for health, inspired by models like Safaricom's "Sambaza," encourage community support and enable individuals to access healthcare services even if they face financial constraints. Incentives for community health workers (CHWs) through referral reward points provide additional motivation and recognition for their essential role in connecting individuals to our services.

The innovative aspects of our solution have the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts within the healthcare space. By demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach, we can inspire others to adopt similar models and expand access to care in their respective regions. The use of solar-powered mobile clinics, data-driven optimization, and community engagement can become best practices in delivering healthcare services to underserved populations globally.

Overall, our solution has the power to change the market by redefining how healthcare access is approached and achieved. By combining technological innovation, community engagement, and sustainable financing models, we can create a shift towards more inclusive and equitable healthcare systems. Through our crowdfunding approach, we involve the public, stakeholders, and partners in the revenue model, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and collaboration. This collaborative effort has the potential to revolutionize the way healthcare is accessed, delivered, and financed, ultimately improving the lives of individuals in underserved communities.

1. Strengthen fleet and resource management: We will invest in improving our technology for fleet management, logistics, and resource allocation. This will enable us to optimize the operations of our mobile clinics and efficiently serve more communities. We also plan to explore partnerships with other organizations that are interested in offering health services to the last mile, allowing them to leverage our end-to-end solution for health service delivery.

2. Develop incentive and health voucher program: We will design an innovative incentive program and health voucher system that benefits the community and community health workers. This program will provide tangible rewards and incentives to community members who actively engage with the healthcare services offered through our mobile clinics. Additionally, community health workers who refer users to the clinics will receive referral reward points that they can utilize for their own well-being, including transportation, airtime, access to farm inputs, education support, and building loans.

3. Enhance the LEAP learning platform: We recognize the importance of continuous learning and capacity building. We will focus on improving our learning platform, LEAP, to make it more user-friendly, intuitive, and tailored to the learning habits of our users. We will integrate the prescriptive data collected through our mobile clinic's data infrastructure to personalize the learning experience and provide targeted educational resources that address the specific healthcare needs of the communities we serve.

1. Healthcare Access: We measure the number of individuals reached by our mobile clinics, specifically targeting underserved communities and populations in remote areas. This includes tracking the number of vaccinations administered, screenings conducted, and medical consultations provided. (SDG 3)

2. Vaccination Coverage: We monitor the increase in vaccination coverage rates in the communities we serve. This includes tracking the percentage of target populations receiving essential vaccines, such as COVID-19 vaccines, as well as routine immunizations for children. (SDG 3)

3. Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Management: We track the number of individuals receiving NCD screenings, diagnosis, and treatment through our mobile clinics. This includes monitoring indicators such as blood pressure control, blood sugar management, and cancer screening rates. (SDG 3)

4. Community Engagement: We measure the level of community participation and engagement in our healthcare programs. This includes tracking the number of community members attending health education sessions, participating in health promotion activities, and providing feedback on our services. (SDG 3)

5. Environmental Impact: As part of SDG 13 (Climate Action), we monitor our environmental impact by measuring the reduction in carbon emissions achieved through the use of solar-powered mobile clinics. We track the number of diesel-powered generators replaced by clean energy sources, as well as the overall energy savings achieved.

1. Activities:

   • Deploy solar-powered mobile clinics equipped with medical resources to underserved communities.
   • Optimize routing using data-driven analysis to maximize healthcare coverage and reach areas with limited access.
   • Engage with local healthcare providers and community health workers for collaboration and capacity-building.

2. Outputs:

   • Increased availability of healthcare services through mobile clinics, including vaccinations, screenings, and treatment.
   • Improved routing efficiency, ensuring clinics reach remote areas and underserved communities.
   • Strengthened partnerships with local healthcare providers and community health workers.

3. Short-term Outcomes:

   • Enhanced access to essential healthcare services for underserved populations, addressing immediate health needs.
   • Increased vaccination coverage, leading to a reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases.
   • Early detection and management of non-communicable diseases, reducing morbidity and mortality rates.
   • Empowered community health workers equipped with knowledge and resources to promote health in their communities.

4. Intermediate Outcomes:

   • Improved health outcomes within the target population, including reduced disease burden and improved overall well-being.
   • Strengthened healthcare infrastructure and resilience in the face of destabilizing events.
   • Increased community engagement and ownership of healthcare initiatives.

5. Long-term Outcomes:

   • Equitable access to healthcare for underserved populations, contributing to the achievement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
   • Sustainable improvements in health indicators, promoting socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
   • Broader positive impacts on the healthcare sector, inspiring similar innovative approaches and collaborations.

Our theory of change is supported by evidence from research on the effectiveness of mobile clinics in improving healthcare access, increasing vaccination coverage, and managing non-communicable diseases. 

Additionally, ongoing evaluation and feedback from the target population and stakeholders inform our understanding of the links between our activities, outputs, and outcomes. 

Through continuous learning and adaptation, we refine our approach to maximize our impact on the problem of limited healthcare access and build resilient health systems.

1. Mobile Clinic Infrastructure:

• Solar Power: Our mobile clinics are equipped with solar panels that harness renewable energy to power the clinics' operations, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources and promoting sustainability.

• Medical Equipment: We would like to utilize more portable, easy to operate medical equipment and technologies to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including diagnostics, vaccinations, and treatment for non-communicable diseases.

2. Data-driven Optimization:

• Advanced Analytics: We leverage big data analytics to optimize the routing of our mobile clinics. By analyzing population data, disease mapping, vaccination coverage rates, and other relevant factors, we can identify underserved areas and ensure efficient allocation of resources.

• Predictive Modeling: We employ predictive modeling techniques to anticipate healthcare needs, disease outbreaks, and resource requirements, enabling proactive planning and response.

3. Digital Health Systems:

• Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): We utilize digital systems to maintain electronic medical records of patients, ensuring accurate and accessible healthcare information. This facilitates continuity of care and enables data-driven decision-making.

• Telemedicine: Our solution would like to incorporate low-cost telemedicine technologies, enabling remote consultations, medical advice, and follow-up care. This enhances healthcare access, particularly for individuals in low connectivity areas.

4. Community Engagement Platforms:

• LEAP Learning Platform: We have developed the LEAP (Learning, Education, and Progress) platform, that incorporates SMS tech and IVR to provide health education and training to community health workers, empowering them with knowledge and skills to deliver healthcare services effectively.

• Mobile Applications: We leverage mobile applications to engage and educate community members, providing information on healthcare, appointment scheduling, and reminders for vaccinations and screenings.

5. Innovative Financing Mechanisms:

• Crowdfunding Approach: We are implementing a crowdfunding approach to involve the public and health stakeholders in the revenue model. This approach allows individuals and organizations to contribute directly to our solution, becoming active participants in improving healthcare access for underserved communities.
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement: We engage with communities and stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of healthcare access and the impact of our solution. By creating a sense of ownership and collective responsibility, we encourage individuals to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign and support our mission.
• Health Voucher Programs: As part of the crowdfunding approach, we are designing a health voucher program that enables community members to contribute to a revolving fund for health. These vouchers are awarded to individuals at the last mile who cannot afford upfront healthcare costs, ensuring equitable access to essential healthcare services.

This is led by a team of women, including the team, project, and delivery leads. Its primary objective is to establish mobile clinics that prioritize serving individuals with disabilities. 

The initial motivation behind this approach was to ensure that people with disabilities have access to healthcare services. The program focuses on creating a more inclusive health workforce by specifically targeting community health workers (CHWs) with disabilities. 

In collaboration with Roche and local communities, the program has successfully trained and equipped 100 CHWs to provide cancer care and support. Notably, 70% of these CHWs have disabilities, and they are paired with non-disabled individuals to ensure they receive appropriate assistance and accommodations.

Our business model revolves around providing essential healthcare services and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable impact. We have two key customer segments: the underserved communities in need of healthcare access and the stakeholders interested in supporting and investing in innovative healthcare solutions.

Key Customers:

1. a. Underserved Communities: Our primary beneficiaries are the underserved communities lacking access to adequate healthcare services. We provide them with comprehensive healthcare solutions through our solar-powered mobile clinics. These clinics offer vaccinations, screenings, diagnostics, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and general healthcare services. By bringing healthcare directly to their doorstep, we address the barriers of distance, transportation, and limited healthcare infrastructure. 

   b. Stakeholders: We engage with stakeholders such as philanthropic organizations, businesses, and individuals interested in making a positive impact on healthcare access. They become customers by contributing to our crowdfunding campaign and investing in our solution. Their support helps us sustain and expand our operations, ensuring long-term impact and scalability.

Products and Services:

1. a. Innovative Financing Mechanisms: We offer various innovative financing mechanisms to engage stakeholders and generate revenue. These include the crowdfunding approach, health voucher programs, and collaboration with telecommunication companies. Through these mechanisms, individuals and organizations can contribute to our solution and actively participate in improving healthcare access.

Value Proposition:

1. a. Underserved Communities: Our solution provides convenient and comprehensive healthcare services directly to underserved communities, overcoming geographical and infrastructural barriers. We address their healthcare needs, improve health outcomes, and enhance overall well-being. 

   b. Stakeholders: Stakeholders find value in supporting our solution as it aligns with their social impact goals. By investing in our innovative healthcare model, they contribute to positive change, promote sustainable development, and make a tangible difference in the lives of underserved populations.

Our business model creates a win-win situation where underserved communities receive critical healthcare services, and stakeholders have an opportunity to support impactful and sustainable healthcare solutions. 

The revenue generated through our innovative financing mechanisms enables us to continue operating, expand our reach, and create lasting change in healthcare access.

1. Grants: We actively seek donations and grants from philanthropic organizations, foundations, and individuals who share our vision and are committed to improving healthcare access. These funds help support our operations, including the maintenance and expansion of our solar-powered mobile clinics, training programs, and community engagement activities.

2. Innovative Financing Mechanisms: We employ innovative financing mechanisms to generate revenue and engage stakeholders in supporting our solution. One such mechanism is crowdfunding, where we reach out to the public, individuals, and communities to contribute towards our healthcare initiatives. This approach allows us to mobilize financial resources while fostering a sense of ownership and community participation.

3. Service Contracts and Partnerships: We explore opportunities to enter into service contracts with governments, NGOs, and other organizations interested in providing healthcare services to underserved populations. By leveraging our expertise and infrastructure, we can offer end-to-end solutions for healthcare delivery, optimizing the use of our solar-powered mobile clinics and providing comprehensive services. These contracts and partnerships can provide a stable source of revenue and increase our reach.

4. Social Impact Investment: We actively seek social impact investors interested in supporting innovative solutions that address healthcare access challenges. These investors understand the potential for both financial return and social impact and can provide investment capital to scale our operations and expand our reach.

We raised an initial $1M from AstraZeneca in 2022 to fabricate 10 Mobile Health Units, and carry out COVID-19 vaccination.

We also received £249,000 funding from CRODA foundation to pilot NCD surveillance in Kenya.

We have partnered with Ministries of Health in the 5 counties and we have a co-share model where they donate the towing vehicle, personnel and commodities for the medical screening.