The Kilifi County government has introduced a digital maternity health tracking system designed to enhance maternal healthcare in the county.
According to representatives from the county, the system is embedded in an app that can be downloaded to mobile phones and helps pregnant women detect early pregnancy complications.
Once a pregnant woman is registered on the app, she will receive vital health information that will help her understand whether she is experiencing pregnancy complications, enabling her to seek timely medical care.
The app is also linked to healthcare workers in different hospitals who also track the progress of pregnant women in the county.
"We have the Uzazi Salama app, which is available on the phone, so that pregnant women, especially those in rural areas, may use it. The app sends regular messages to pregnant women who will use that knowledge to know whether they have danger signs," the representative said.
"Also importantly, the health workers can use that app and follow the progress of the women and make sure that mothers are well taken care of," he added.
Kilifi County records an estimated 532 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related complications, according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) data.
Factors that contribute to these deaths include Factors contributing to this issue include: High rates of teenage pregnancies, limited access to quality maternal and newborn health services, preference for traditional birth attendants, and postpartum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding).
The county government is optimistic that the app will play a key role in helping pregnant women avert these risks, particularly those in rural areas.
The launch of the app comes months after the Ministry of Health's announcement on plans to introduce a free ambulance service app nationwide.
Speaking during an interview in July, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said that the app, "The emergency chronic and critical illness fund", will be established using taxpayers' money.
Using the app, according to Duale, Kenyans will be able to request an ambulance, similar to how they do with online taxi apps, which will take them to any hospital free of charge, regardless of where they are.
According to the Social Health Authority CEO Mercy Mwangangi, the ambulance services cost about Ksh4,500, and the authority will cover that cost in addition to all the medical expenses that will be incurred in the hospital in the first 24 hours.
