Sam Brusco, Associate Editor11.01.23
Philips has reported on the progress its Philips Foundation made to improve access to maternal healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over five years with five distinct projects, the company said it has made substantial progress though unique collaborations to boost maternal care access for 15 million people in 2022.
This week, at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, the foundation laid out plans to ramp up partnerships with the region’s social entrepreneurs.
“From building health awareness to providing high-quality healthcare, Philips Foundation’s journey with its strategic partners in maternal health for Sub-Saharan Africa is having a significant impact,” Philips Foundation director Margot Cooijmans told the press. “Each part of our programs has been designed with thought and care, offering healthcare workers and patients a livelihood by bringing essential services to their communities. By combining our efforts with innovative social enterprises, we can provide continuity of quality healthcare, leverage local innovations and ensure even more long-term, sustainable impact.”
The foundation has partnered with Access Afya, GOAL 3, Ilara Health, and Penda health, which are all rooted in the African healthcare system to deliver maternal and child healthcare services. Three key programs improving maternal healthcare access in Sub-Saharan Africa include:
Find more information on these programs here.
This week, at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, the foundation laid out plans to ramp up partnerships with the region’s social entrepreneurs.
“From building health awareness to providing high-quality healthcare, Philips Foundation’s journey with its strategic partners in maternal health for Sub-Saharan Africa is having a significant impact,” Philips Foundation director Margot Cooijmans told the press. “Each part of our programs has been designed with thought and care, offering healthcare workers and patients a livelihood by bringing essential services to their communities. By combining our efforts with innovative social enterprises, we can provide continuity of quality healthcare, leverage local innovations and ensure even more long-term, sustainable impact.”
The foundation has partnered with Access Afya, GOAL 3, Ilara Health, and Penda health, which are all rooted in the African healthcare system to deliver maternal and child healthcare services. Three key programs improving maternal healthcare access in Sub-Saharan Africa include:
1. Boosting Access to Obstetric Ultrasound Services
In Kenya, Philips Foundation partnered with Aga Khan University to train midwives, equip health centers, and enhance communication, resulting in improved antenatal experiences and early detection of at-risk pregnancies. In Uganda, the foundation supported Imaging the World Africa in training over 250 healthcare professionals, helping identify life-threatening complications.2. A Tool to Promote Health Awareness & Early Detection
To encourage shifts in behavior related to pregnancy risks in underserved communities, Philips Foundation, alongside Philips Design and the ICRC, developed easy-to-understand referral cards for high-risk pregnancies. The referral cards showed efficacy in boosting healthcare-seeking behavior among high-risk women residing in socio-cultural settings characterized by low literacy rates, leading to increased use of healthcare services.3. Improving Service Readiness for Maternity Care
Together with the Kenya Ministry of Health to accelerate medical equipment’s availability and improved functionality, Philips Foundation partnered with UNICEF to introduce a digital tool to supervise and upkeep medical equipment in 100 healthcare facilities. The reproject’s realization has simplified the process of managing medical equipment, giving facility managers the power to track the status of equipment proficiently, plan timely maintenance, and improve resource allocation, ensuring uninterrupted maternity care provision.Find more information on these programs here.