Nigeria has one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. To address this, a local startup is using technology to improve the monitoring of pregnant women, especially in areas with limited access to healthcare.

Natal Cares, a Nigerian startup based in Akure, Ondo State, has developed a technological solution aimed at improving maternal and child health by providing close medical support for pregnant women through a combination of digital tools. The social enterprise was founded in 2017 by Uche Udekwe and Joy Chioma.

"Natal Cares is a social enterprise that leverages on the power of mobile technology, machine learning and low cost innovation to help reduce maternal and infant mortality from complications of pregnancy or delivery specifically focusing on pregnant women and Nursing mothers in Rural Under-served communities in Africa," the startup states on its LinkedIn page.

Their offering includes a mobile application, SMS messaging tailored for rural areas, and affordable portable medical devices. These tools enable the collection and transmission of vital data such as blood pressure and heart rate, facilitating the early detection of complications during or after pregnancy.

"To curb the un-healthy delivery practices at point of delivery, [Natal Cares] has developed a basic, ultra-affordable sterilized delivery kits carefully furnished by our team of doctors containing sterile supplies that pregnant women require at childbirth to ensure safe and hygienic delivery."

The solution also delivers educational content on proper health practices, contributing to community awareness. This educational component aims to bridge information gaps surrounding reproductive health, which are often a cause of preventable complications.

Supported by the Tony Elumelu Foundation under the Women Entrepreneurship for Africa program, the startup has also garnered recognition for its ability to adapt technology to the realities of low-resource environments. Natal Cares was a participant in the Winter 2023 cohort of the Canadian accelerator Seedstars.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa