Vodafone’s m-mama Initiative Expands to Zanzibar, Aiding Expectant Mothers in Rural Tanzania

Vodafone’s m-mama Initiative Expands to Zanzibar, Aiding Expectant Mothers in Rural Tanzania

(IN BRIEF) In Tanzania, where over 40 million people reside in rural areas with limited access to healthcare, Vodafone’s m-mama initiative is making a significant impact by providing affordable emergency transport services for expectant mothers in need. The challenges of accessing medical care, particularly for women during childbirth, have been a longstanding issue. M-mama addresses this problem by establishing a network of local drivers as emergency transport providers in regions where ambulances are scarce. The program maintains detailed referral plans for every clinic and village, enabling efficient connections to appropriate care facilities. When a patient calls for assistance, the dispatch center assesses their needs and dispatches the nearest driver, who is compensated instantly for their service via mobile money transfer systems like M-Pesa. This initiative, already operational in Tanzania and Lesotho, has resulted in a remarkable 38% reduction in maternal deaths where implemented, significantly improving newborn survival rates. Recently, m-mama expanded its services to Zanzibar, offering transportation options by car or boat to expectant mothers in remote areas, with over 470 emergency transports facilitated since its launch. Vodafone has also contributed foldable stretch beds and life jackets to enhance logistical and safety support for boat taxis on eight inhabited islands benefiting from the program. Given the high maternal and child mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, the expansion of this initiative aims to reach and assist as many mothers and newborns as possible.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 25-Oct-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Over 40 million people living in Tanzania are based in rural areas, making it difficult for them to get access to healthcare. For women, complications during childbirth can require them to travel miles to access the appropriate care they need and that isn’t always possible.

In Veronica’s case, she needed to get from one clinic to another during her twins’ labour. If it weren’t for m-mama, her youngest could have lost her life, and Veronica could have lost her own too.

Here she tells us her story:

With m-mama, we can support mothers like Veronica to get life-saving medical assistance by providing them with affordable emergency transport.

How does m-mama work?

Creating a network of local drivers to act as emergency transport, in areas where ambulances are rarely available, m-mama has detailed referral plans for every clinic and village, meaning they can connect pregnant women to the right care.

When a patient calls in, the dispatch centre can assess their requirements and identify the nearest driver to take them to a health facility for treatment. On safe arrival, the driver is paid instantly for the journey via M-Pesa (Vodacom’s mobile money transfer system) or another approved payment system.

Already live in Tanzania and Lesotho, Vodafone has seen a 38% reduction in maternal deaths where it is rolled out and even greater improvements when it comes to survival rates of newborns.

Expanding into Zanzibar

In December, the programme expanded its reach to include the islands of Zanzibar. Expectant mothers can access the m-mama dispatch centre in Zanzibar which will transport them either by car or boat as needed to receive the care they need.

Since then, we’ve already provided transport for over 470 emergencies. This shows how important this service is.

To complement the launch, we also donated foldable stretch beds and life jackets for logistical and safety support of the boat taxis. These will be distributed to eight of the inhabited islands that are benefiting from the program.

With Sub-Saharan Africa suffering some of the highest rates in maternal and child mortality it is important we continue to expand this offering, reaching as many mothers and newborns as possible.

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SOURCE: VODAFONE