Philips Foundation marks five years of improving access to maternal care in Sub-Saharan Africa and sets out future plans
01 Novembre 2023 - 10:00AM
Philips Foundation marks five years of improving access to maternal
care in Sub-Saharan Africa and sets out future plans
November 1, 2023
Reaching 15 million people in the region in 2022 alone [1], the
foundation sets out plans to ramp up collaboration with social
entrepreneurs
Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Nairobi, Kenya –
Philips Foundation, with its mission to provide access to quality
healthcare for 100 million people a year by 2030, reports today on
the significant progress made in improving access to maternal
healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over five years across five
distinct projects, Philips Foundation has made substantial progress
through unique collaborations, improving access to maternal care
for 15 million people in 2022 alone [1]. This week, at a partner
meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, the foundation set out plans to ramp up
its partnerships with social entrepreneurs in the region.
“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,” Margot Cooijmans, Director of the
Philips Foundation, says. “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 increased focus on collaboration with social entrepreneurs
comes after initial successes since the foundation launched the
scheme in 2021. Partnerships with Access Afya, GOAL 3, Ilara
Health, and Penda Health are all rooted in the African healthcare
system that delivers maternal and child healthcare services,
powered by locally-enabled innovation.
Key Philips Foundation programs that are improving access to
maternal healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Enhancing 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 to identify life-threatening
complications.
Award-winning tool to promote health awareness and early
detection – In order to encourage shifts in behavior
related to pregnancy risks within underserved communities, Philips
Foundation, alongside Philips Design and the ICRC, developed
easy-to-understand referral cards for high-risk pregnancies. The
award-winning referral cards [3] have demonstrated remarkable
efficacy in boosting healthcare-seeking behavior among high-risk
women residing in socio-cultural settings characterized by low
literacy rates, leading to increased utilization of healthcare
services.
Improving service readiness for maternity care
– Together with the Kenya Ministry of Health to amplify
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 realization of the project 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 the allocation of resources, thereby
ensuring the uninterrupted provision of maternity care.
More information on these programs can be found in this
backgrounder.
[1] This impact metric does not include direct impact through
the provided health solutions but includes the number of people
that have gained access to those services, when needed, reached
through collaborations with the mentioned partners. The access to
care metric is documented and defined per project as a tangible
improvement of access to healthcare services relevant to those who
are counted.[2] WHO (2023). Maternal mortality[3] The design for
the high-risk pregnancy cards has won as many as 10 awards spread
across the US, UK, and Germany, including awards at Fast Company
(2x) and DMI Design Value Awards. Just recently, it won the Grand
Prix and Gold Award at the DBA Design for Effectiveness Awards
2023.
For further information, please contact:
Yannick EshuijsPhilips FoundationTel.: +31 6 1852 6633E-mail:
yannick.eshuijs@philips.com
About Philips Foundation
Philips Foundation is a registered non-profit organization
established in 2014 – with a mission to provide access to quality
healthcare for underserved communities across the globe. By
leveraging Philips’ capabilities and combining them with the
experience and expertise of non-governmental organizations and
other community-focused and impact-driven enterprises, Philips
Foundation helps create innovative pathways to open up affordable
healthcare for communities most in need. By also partnering with
innovative social entrepreneurs rooted in the local ecosystem,
Philips Foundation aims to increase access to healthcare for 100
million people a year by 2030. More information can be found at
www.philips-foundation.com
- Access Afya Medical Clinic
- A clinician carries out an ultrasound exam
- Easy-to-understand referral cards being reviewed by
mothers
Grafico Azioni Koninklijke Philips NV (BIT:1PHIA)
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