Field Initiative: Transforming Maternal Health in Kenya and Nigeria

Field, an African healthtech company, has launched a groundbreaking initiative. This initiative aims at addressing maternal health challenges, such as maternal mortality, newborn and child health, and nutrition. The service will introduce emerging therapies. It will leverage Field's proprietary technology, distribution network, and financing services. The purpose is to improve healthcare access in rural and urban areas across Kenya and Nigeria. The initiative received an initial $11 million backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It focuses on transforming maternal healthcare through supply chain innovations. It also emphasizes advanced therapies. Field’s vast network now supports over 40,000 public and private healthcare providers. This will allow the introduction of critical interventions for maternal healthcare. Field has been active since 2015. It has overseen over 800 million health interventions. These span across 60 therapeutic areas, including family planning and HIV treatment. Maternal mortality remains a pressing issue in Africa. The World Health Organization reports that the continent accounted for 69% of global maternal deaths in 2020. Nigeria alone contributed 29%. The likelihood of maternal death in Africa is 45 times higher than in Europe. Field aims to tackle this disparity by providing access to life-saving therapies, like heat-stable carbetocin and calibrated drapes, which are crucial in detecting and treating postpartum hemorrhage—the leading cause of maternal mortality. Field’s initiative will focus on improving maternal healthcare outcomes through new therapies. It will also support the digitization of healthcare systems. This includes providing private healthcare providers, hospitals, and government healthcare bodies with financing options. These options are to enhance operations and strengthen purchasing capabilities. They also guarantee last-mile delivery of essential medical supplies. The initiative also includes installing pharma-grade refrigerators to guarantee the safe storage of maternal health products. Michael Moreland, CEO and Founder of Field, emphasized the importance of technology in transforming maternal health. He stated, “This is public health powered by technology. The products and services we have developed over the past eight years are now scaled into large-scale public health programs. This is how healthtech companies can make a significant impact by collaborating with public and private entities.” Field’s commitment to maternal health extends to building a coalition of governments, manufacturers, and key stakeholders, making this one of Africa’s most ambitious maternal health programs. By digitally powering and financing health systems, Field seeks to improve maternal and child survival rates across the continent. Additionally to its focus on maternal health, Field continues to expand its digital solutions. The company's distribution platform, Shelf Life, is the largest pharmaceutical supply chain in Africa, serving over 2,500 pharmacies and hospitals across 24 cities in Nigeria and Kenya. Through this platform, Field provides trade financing solutions. It addresses working capital constraints and ensures access to priority maternal health therapies and medical equipment. Through these efforts, Field is positioned to make significant strides in improving maternal healthcare across Africa, ensuring that women have access to the care and resources they need to survive and thrive during pregnancy and childbirth.