Maternal health remains a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 533 mothers per 100,000 live births lose their lives to preventable pregnancy complications, compared to just six in Europe. This sharp contrast highlights the urgent need for innovative, accessible solutions to bridge the maternal healthcare gap. Tafadzwa Munzwa, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Dawa Health shared how BabyChecker is helping address these challenges in Zambia and beyond.
The reality of maternal health in Zambia
“We are seeing that most mothers present for antenatal care very late, often in the second trimester,” Munzwa explained. Late access to maternal healthcare means many high-risk conditions, such as placenta previa, anemia, and hypertension, remain undiagnosed until delivery, significantly increasing the likelihood of complications. In Zambia, 60% of antenatal care is of poor quality, and many mothers do not receive a single ultrasound scan throughout their pregnancy.
Mobile clinics and AI-enabled solutions
Dawa Health has been pioneering mobile clinic vans that travel to underserved communities, offering maternal care where traditional healthcare infrastructure is lacking. “With these mobile clinics, we bring BabyChecker, an AI-powered ultrasound tool, directly to expectant mothers, ensuring early detection of complications that could be life-threatening,” Munzwa emphasized.
One case that underscores the impact of BabyChecker involved a 23-year-old woman at 36 weeks of pregnancy. Despite normal vital signs, BabyChecker identified placenta previa, a condition where the placenta obstructs the birth canal, significantly increasing the risk of severe bleeding during delivery. “Without this AI-assisted screening, she would have been sent home, unaware of the risk she faced. Instead, we referred her to a teaching hospital where she received the care she needed, and both mother and baby survived,” Munzwa recalled.
The role of AI in last-mile maternal care
Beyond ultrasounds, Dawa Health has integrated additional AI-powered tools, including a non-invasive anemia detection system (NiADA). “Over 80% of the patients we screened in our early access program were anemic, a key risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage,” Munzwa shared. Using AI to analyze conjunctival images, NiADA estimates hemoglobin levels, allowing healthcare workers to identify anemic patients before giving birth, thus preventing life-threatening complications.
Improving maternal health outcomes
Through community health worker networks, mobile clinics, and AI-driven screening tools like BabyChecker, Dawa Health has supported over 7,000 mothers in Zambia. “We are significantly reducing the time between conception and the first antenatal visit, from six months down to just one or two,” Munzwa noted. This early engagement enables healthcare workers to detect and manage high-risk pregnancies much earlier, saving lives.
Scaling for greater impact
The vision for BabyChecker and Dawa Health extends beyond Zambia. “By the end of 2025, we aim to reach between 20,000 and 30,000 women with AI-powered maternal care,” Munzwa shared. Achieving this goal requires continued collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology innovators to ensure AI-based maternal screening becomes a standard in low-resource settings.
Conclusion
As maternal health crises persist in sub-Saharan Africa, AI-powered innovations like BabyChecker are proving to be game-changers. By bringing accessible, non-invasive, and cost-effective diagnostic solutions to the last mile, these technologies empower healthcare workers to detect risks early, provide timely interventions, and ultimately save lives. “A simple scan can mean the difference between life and death for a mother and her child,” Munzwa concluded.
