DawaMom| AI-powered 4Her healthcare

In Sub-Saharan Africa, an alarming healthcare crisis plagues the region, with over 30 million women and children lacking access to quality and accessible healthcare services. This staggering gap in healthcare accessibility has resulted in a dire situation, where two-thirds of global maternal and half of child mortality persist in this region. The critical issues at hand include a shortage of skilled health workers, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to essential medicines and supplies, particularly affecting maternal, neonatal, and pediatric healthcare. This unfortunate situation leads to an increased prevalence of preventable complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood, contributing to elevated morbidity and mortality rates.

One of the primary challenges facing governments in Sub-Saharan Africa is the constraint of limited budgets, which impedes the utilization of trained and semi-skilled healthcare professionals like clinical officers and CHWs. This crisis underscores the urgent need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, medical supplies, and skilled health workers.

Adolescent pregnancy is one of the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems that several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience. It accounts for about 11% of all births worldwide (WHO, 2014), and 95% of these births occur in LMICs (Morris JL & Rushwan H, 2015). In Zambia, approximately 3 in every 10 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years have either given birth or are pregnant. It has been documented worldwide that pregnancy and childbirth-related complications are among the leading causes of death for adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 years (WHO).

The 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) Report highlighted the barriers faced by women in accessing healthcare. Approximately 51% of respondents reported experiencing at least one obstacle when seeking health services. Issues included 

• distance to the health facility (29%), 
• transportation challenges (25%), 
• concerns about the availability of healthcare providers (17%),  
• concerns about the availability of female healthcare providers (11%).

Furthermore, postnatal support services were found to be lacking, with 22% of mothers not receiving any postnatal health checks.

Additionally, over 10,000 first-level clinicians in Zambia like midwives, clinical officers, nurses, and community health workers (CHWs) are currently underutilized and often underpaid.

The DawaMom solution embodies an innovative approach to maternal and child healthcare that holds significant promise for addressing the unmet needs for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services, especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Zambia. This comprehensive outpatient service harnesses advanced technology, including an AI-powered digital health platform, WhatsApp chats, and cutting-edge point-of-care tools. It is also complemented by a well-structured network of community-based mobile clinic vans and eBikes, designed to provide accessible and timely healthcare to regions facing SRHR challenges.

At the heart of the DawaMom solution are dedicated first-level clinicians. These healthcare professionals, comprising clinical officers, midwives, and medical licentiates, are bolstered by a network of community health workers. Together, they are the vanguards of delivering on-demand healthcare services, bridging the gap in SRHR care in resource-constrained settings. Empowered with state-of-the-art point-of-care technology and a mobile-first health platform, they efficiently screen, profile, and triage patients, improving access to vital care.

The point-of-care technology deployed by our field clinicians encompasses a range of advanced tools, such as AI-powered ultrasound scans, Hemoglobin monitors, Blood Pressure monitors, thermometers, and fetoscopes. These tools enable our clinicians to provide point-of-care triage and risk identification, which is particularly valuable in high-risk cases. This capability ensures timely and cost-effective referrals to specialized healthcare teams, thus enhancing overall care quality.

Our solution will enhance access to SRHR services, information, and commodities in marginalized communities by utilizing our WhatsApp chatbot and eBikes for commodity delivery. This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce preventable complications and mortality rates by improving access to contraceptives and SRHR information for adolescents, who are the population most at risk.

Beyond the use of technology, the DawaMom solution embraces a holistic approach to maternal and child healthcare. It brings together healthcare professionals, innovative tools, and data-driven decision-making, addressing the unique challenges faced by communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and similar LMICs. By providing accessible, timely, and precise care, our initiative aims to contribute significantly to the well-being and health outcomes of mothers and children in these underserved regions, thus addressing some of the SRHR gaps.

The solution not only promises to enhance SRHR access but also has the potential to make a significant impact on the economic development of youth and the societies they are part of by empowering them to plan their families. By bridging the SRHR gap through innovation and community engagement, we hope to empower young people to make informed choices and actively participate in shaping their health trajectories and well-being.

Our solution, known as DawaMom, primarily serves marginalized communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically targeting adolescents, women of reproductive age, and newborns. These are the individuals who are currently underserved in terms of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services, information, and commodities.

The target population includes:

1. Adolescents: Adolescents, both girls and boys, often face significant challenges in accessing SRHR information and services. They may lack comprehensive sexuality education and have limited access to contraceptives, which puts them at risk of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Stigma, societal taboos, and a lack of confidential and youth-friendly services can further hinder their access to essential SRHR care.

2. Women of Reproductive Age: Women of reproductive age, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries, often have limited access to maternal and child healthcare services. They face barriers such as inadequate transportation, economic exclusion, and societal norms that restrict their ability to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

These target populations are currently underserved due to a combination of socio-cultural factors, economic disparities, and a lack of accessible and affordable healthcare services. Our solution, DawaMom, directly addresses these underserved populations' needs in the following ways:

1. Accessibility: DawaMom leverages innovative technologies, such as a WhatsApp chatbot and eBikes for commodity delivery, to improve the accessibility of SRHR services, information, and commodities. This approach overcomes transportation barriers, ensuring that individuals in remote and marginalized communities can access the care they need.

2. Comprehensive SRHR Services: The DawaMom solution offers a range of SRHR services, including access to contraceptives and crucial information. This comprehensive approach addresses the gaps in SRHR care that adolescents and women of reproductive age currently face. It empowers them to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

3. Reducing Preventable Complications: By providing timely access to contraceptives and vital SRHR information, our solution has the potential to significantly reduce preventable complications and mortality rates. This directly impacts the lives of these underserved populations by improving their health outcomes and overall well-being.

4. Empowerment: DawaMom empowers individuals to take control of their sexual and reproductive health by providing them with knowledge and access to essential services. This empowerment enables them to exercise their bodily autonomy, make informed decisions, and actively participate in shaping their health trajectories.

5. Economic Development: Additionally, the solution can contribute to the economic development of youth and the societies they are part of. By offering the means to plan their families and improve their health, individuals can more effectively participate in education and the workforce, positively impacting their economic prospects. Additionally, underpaid first-level clinicians get commissions for retailing services like birth kits.

Our team is exceptionally well-positioned to design and deliver the DawaMom solution to the target population for several compelling reasons:

1. Proximity to the Communities: Our Team Lead and key team members have a close connection to the communities we are serving. We have been actively engaged with slum communities in Lusaka, Zambia, where we piloted this solution from 2021 to 2022. This hands-on experience allowed us to gain invaluable insights into the challenges and specific needs of the community members.

2. Community-Centered Approach: The design and implementation of our solution are intrinsically tied to the communities we serve. We've made concerted efforts to understand the needs of the target population by actively engaging with community members, users, and healthcare providers. Their input has been instrumental in shaping the development of the DawaMom solution. We have conducted surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions to ensure that their ideas and agendas are meaningfully incorporated into our solution.

3. Feedback-Driven Development: During the piloting phase, we received extensive feedback from users and clinicians who utilized the service. This iterative feedback process helped us identify gaps in the existing maternal health and SRHR value chain, understand the unique challenges faced by the community, and refine our solution accordingly.

4. Diverse Team Composition: Our team is composed of a diverse set of individuals with expertise in various fields, including public health specialists, medical doctors, medical licentiates, clinical officers, business and finance experts, and software programmers. This diversity ensures that our solution is well-rounded, addressing the complex, multifaceted issues related to SRHR in a comprehensive manner.

5. Community Representation: Our Team Lead and several team members are representative of the communities we serve. This representation is essential in understanding the cultural, social, and economic nuances of these communities. It also helps build trust and rapport with community members, ensuring that the solution is culturally sensitive and well-received.

We have supported over 5,200 patients through our early access program and are now commencing a pivotal scale-up program through the Lusaka District Health office. This program will deploy 100 field clinical officers who will operate from 72 health centers and 2 mobile clinic vans. Alongside them, community health workers (CHWs) will play a crucial role in the healthcare delivery process. The initiative aims to provide healthcare services to at least 20,000 patients using the DawaMom model during the next 18 months.

The DawaMom solution stands out as an innovative approach to addressing the critical issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in underserved communities. Several key factors make this solution innovative:

1. Utilization of Underpaid Health Workers: DawaMom creatively taps into the underutilized and underpaid health workforce, including clinical officers, midwives, and Community Health Workers (CHWs), as the frontline workers in communities. This approach not only helps in the efficient delivery of healthcare services but also provides employment opportunities for these health workers. By doing so, it simultaneously addresses the issue of healthcare workforce shortages and underemployment.

2. Innovative Business Models: DawaMom pioneers innovative business models that bring SRHR services directly to the doorsteps of marginalized communities. This approach ensures that essential healthcare services are accessible, affordable, and integrated into the local community. It bridges the gap between traditional healthcare services and the specific needs of these communities.

3. Natural Language Processing (NLP) and LLM Bots: The use of NLP and Large Language Model (LLM) bots to support patient inquiries and provide SRHR information is a cutting-edge technological innovation. It ensures that individuals can access accurate and timely information related to their sexual and reproductive health. This technology-driven approach promotes informed decision-making and helps reduce misconceptions and taboos surrounding SRHR.

4. E-bike Delivery of SRHR Commodities: The utilization of eBikes for the delivery of SRHR commodities is a game-changer. It addresses transportation barriers in marginalized communities, ensuring that essential SRHR supplies reach those who need them. This approach not only improves the accessibility of contraceptives but also empowers individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health.

5. Market Transformation: The DawaMom model has the potential to transform the SRHR market. By introducing innovative business models and leveraging technology, it can significantly expand access to SRHR services in underserved regions. This transformation extends beyond the realm of SRHR and can catalyze broader positive impacts by showcasing new, more efficient ways to deliver healthcare services, which other organizations and governments can adopt.

Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are focused on creating transformational changes in the lives of underserved communities in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Next Year Impact Goals (Within 1 Year):

1. Increased Access to SRHR Services: By the end of the next year, our goal is to ensure that at least 20,000 individuals in marginalized communities have improved access to comprehensive SRHR services, including contraceptives, maternal and child healthcare, and SRHR information.

2. Reduction in Preventable Complications: We aim to achieve a 20% reduction in preventable complications related to sexual and reproductive health among our target populations. This will be measured by a decrease in maternal mortality rates, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.

3. Empowerment Through Information: Within the next year, we intend to empower at least 50,000 adolescents and women with accurate SRHR information and education, helping them make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

Next Five Years Impact Goals (Within 5 Years):

1. Scaling Access: Over the next five years, we plan to scale our impact by ensuring that at least 500,000 individuals in underserved communities have improved access to SRHR services. This will include extending our reach to additional regions beyond our initial focus.

2. Transformational Reduction in SRHR Challenges: We aim to achieve a 50% reduction in maternal mortality rates, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections in the communities we serve. This represents a significant transformation in the SRHR landscape.

3. Economic and Social Empowerment: Our long-term goal is to empower at least 100,000 young individuals to actively participate in education, employment, and community development. By providing them with the tools to plan their families and make informed SRHR choices, we aim to create positive economic and social impacts in their lives.

How We Will Achieve These Goals:

1. Continued Innovation: We will continue to innovate in our service delivery by expanding the use of technology, exploring new business models, and leveraging data-driven decision-making to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of our solution.

2. Community Engagement: We will actively engage with the communities we serve to ensure that our solution aligns with their specific needs and aspirations. This will include ongoing feedback loops, focus group discussions, and direct input from community members.

3. Partnerships and Collaboration: We will collaborate with governments, non-governmental organizations, healthcare institutions, and international agencies to extend our reach and maximize our impact. These partnerships will help us access additional resources and expertise.

4. Data-Driven Monitoring and Evaluation: We will implement rigorous data collection and analysis processes to monitor the impact of our solution. By tracking key performance indicators and outcomes, we can make data-informed adjustments and improvements.

5. Advocacy and Awareness: We will actively advocate for policies and practices that support SRHR in underserved communities. Raising awareness about the importance of SRHR and working with stakeholders to implement supportive policies will be a critical part of our strategy.

Our theory of change outlines how and why we expect the DawaMom solution to have a positive impact on addressing the problem of limited access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in marginalized communities. It follows a logical framework, linking our activities to immediate outputs and longer-term outcomes for our target population.

Activities:

1. Engaging Underpaid Health Workers: We employ underpaid health workers, including clinical officers, midwives, and Community Health Workers (CHWs), as the frontlines of our service delivery in marginalized communities. These health workers are trained and equipped to provide SRHR services.

2. Innovative Service Delivery: We deploy innovative business models and eBikes to reach underserved populations. These methods allow us to provide essential SRHR commodities and services directly to the doorstep of individuals in need.

3. Technology-Driven Support: We use Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Model (LLM) bots to provide accurate and timely SRHR information to users through our WhatsApp chatbot.

Immediate Outputs:

1. Improved Access: Through our activities, we immediately improve access to contraceptives, maternal and child healthcare, and SRHR information for marginalized communities.

2. Empowerment: The provision of accurate information empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. This leads to better choices and health outcomes.

Longer-Term Outcomes:

1. Reduction in Preventable Complications: By providing comprehensive SRHR services, we expect to see a reduction in preventable complications. This includes lower maternal mortality rates, reduced unintended pregnancies, and fewer sexually transmitted infections.

2. Economic and Social Empowerment: As individuals gain better control over their reproductive health, they can actively participate in education and employment. This empowerment has the potential to lead to positive economic and social impacts.

Why We Expect This Impact:

Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and has been informed by feedback and insights from the communities we serve. By providing accurate information and essential services, we address the gaps in SRHR services and information that currently exist. This empowers individuals to make better choices about their reproductive health, leading to healthier lives and more significant economic and social contributions.

We are leveraging a combination of well-trained health workers, innovative service delivery methods, and cutting-edge technology to create a holistic solution that directly addresses the problem of limited SRHR access. Our theory of change is supported by both our practical experience and data-driven evaluation, ensuring that we are on track to achieve our desired impact in the long run.

We have a full-time team of 12 people that supports 100 field clinicians

3 years

Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into our work is fundamental to our approach in addressing the critical issue of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in marginalized communities. We recognize that to effectively serve these communities, we must reflect diversity within our own team and uphold values of equity and inclusivity. Here is our approach:

Diversity in Leadership Team:

Our management and advisory team is committed to promoting diversity in both genders and backgrounds. We have team members with diverse cultural, gender, and educational backgrounds. This diversity enables us to understand the unique needs and perspectives of the communities we serve.

Team's Goals for Becoming More Diverse:

We have set clear goals for becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive in our work:

1. Gender Equality: We are actively working to ensure gender equality within our team, and we are committed to having a balanced representation of women and men in leadership positions.

2. Cultural Diversity: We aim to enhance cultural diversity within our team by recruiting members from various cultural backgrounds since Zambia has over 72 ethnic groups. This will allow us to better understand the diverse needs of our target communities.

3. Equitable Employment Practices: Our team is dedicated to ensuring equitable employment practices, which means providing equal opportunities for advancement and leadership roles within the organization, regardless of gender, cultural background, or other characteristics.

Actions Taken:

We have taken several actions to achieve our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals:

1. Recruitment and Hiring: We actively seek diverse talent when recruiting for new positions, ensuring that we have a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives within the organization.

2. Diverse Partnerships: We actively seek partnerships with organizations and individuals who bring diverse perspectives and expertise to our work. This includes collaborating with community-based organizations that understand the unique needs of the communities we serve.

3. Inclusive Decision-Making: We foster an inclusive decision-making process within the organization. This means that diverse perspectives are valued and considered when making strategic and operational decisions.

4. Cultural Sensitivity: We provide cultural sensitivity training to our team members to ensure that our interactions with the communities we serve are respectful and culturally sensitive.

5. Community Engagement: We actively engage with the communities we serve, listening to their feedback and concerns. This approach ensures that their voices are heard and incorporated into our solution's design and implementation.

Our business model is centered around providing valuable services to the populations we serve, with a dual focus on creating impact and generating revenue. Our key customers and beneficiaries include marginalized communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically adolescents, women of reproductive age, and underserved populations.

Products and Services:

1. AI-Powered Ultrasound Scans: We offer AI-powered ultrasound scans through our partnership with Delft. These scans are essential for monitoring maternal health during pregnancy and ensuring the well-being of both mothers and babies.

2. Birthkits with Flexible Payment Packages: We provide birthkits to expectant mothers, which include essential supplies for safe and hygienic deliveries. Our innovative approach includes flexible payment packages to ensure affordability for our customers.

3. Point-of-Care Tests: We offer point-of-care tests, such as Hemoglobin (Hb) level and urinalysis tests. These tests are conducted in real time, enabling immediate clinical decisions and improving healthcare outcomes.

4. Laboratory Tests: Through partnerships with pathology labs, we facilitate various laboratory tests, ensuring accurate diagnostics and timely treatment for patients.

5. Mobile Clinic Van Outpatient Services: Our mobile clinic vans serve as outpatient clinics, providing a range of healthcare services, including maternal and child healthcare, family planning, and general healthcare check-ups. These vans are equipped with healthcare professionals and the necessary equipment to deliver services directly to the communities we serve.

Why They Want or Need Our Services:

Our customers and beneficiaries, including adolescents, women of reproductive age, and underserved populations, want and need our services for several reasons:

1. Accessibility: Our mobile clinic vans and innovative service delivery models improve accessibility to essential healthcare services, reducing the barriers of distance and transportation that often limit access.

2. Affordability: Our flexible payment packages and affordable pricing ensure that our services are accessible to individuals with limited financial resources.

3. Quality Healthcare: We provide high-quality healthcare services, including diagnostics and point-of-care tests, which are essential for maternal and child health.

4. Convenience: By bringing healthcare services directly to their doorstep, we offer convenience to our customers, saving them time and effort.

5. Health Outcomes: Our services directly impact health outcomes by providing timely diagnostics, ensuring safe deliveries through birth kits, and offering comprehensive maternal and child healthcare.

Our business model is designed to balance the social impact of improving healthcare in underserved communities with financial sustainability. We generate revenue by charging for some services while seeking support from philanthropic organizations and partnerships to fund services that directly benefit marginalized populations. This dual approach allows us to create both societal and economic value in our mission to address critical healthcare challenges.

Our plan for becoming financially sustainable involves a multi-faceted approach that combines various sources of funding to cover our expected expenses. In the short term, we are leveraging patient impact capital, including grants, to build infrastructure and create evidence of the impact of our services. However, in the long term, our strategy encompasses raising equity investment and potentially securing credit line loans. Our revenue streams will primarily come from the following sources:

1. Revenues: We anticipate a significant portion of our revenue to come from the fees we charge for providing healthcare services and medical tests. This revenue stream is integral to covering our operational and service delivery costs.

2. Service Contracts with Governments: Establishing service contracts with government healthcare agencies is a key component of our financial sustainability plan. These contracts involve providing essential healthcare services, including maternal and child healthcare, point-of-care tests, and laboratory diagnostics, to underserved populations. By collaborating with governments, we aim to secure stable, long-term revenue streams.

3. Insurance Claims: We plan to work with insurance providers to facilitate claims for our healthcare services. This involves partnering with insurance companies to offer healthcare packages that include our services. This not only expands our reach but also provides a reliable source of revenue.

4. Equity Investment: In the long term, we intend to raise equity investment from impact investors, venture capital firms, and organizations aligned with our mission. Equity investments will allow us to scale our operations, reach more communities, and further enhance our impact.

5. Credit Line Loans: To support our growth and expansion, we may explore credit line loans from financial institutions and impact-focused lenders. These loans can provide the necessary working capital and funds for scaling our services.

By diversifying our sources of revenue and aligning them with our mission, we aim to ensure the financial sustainability of our operations. This approach will enable us to continue providing critical healthcare services to underserved populations while covering our operational expenses and expanding our impact in the long term.