Why strengthened emergency transport crucial in saving mothers, newborns
DODOMA Regional Commissioner (RC), Ms Rosemary Senyamule has underlined the importance of readily available emergency transport services to enable mothers and newborns to timely access healthcare centres during complications to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
Inadequate access to transport is one of delays in accessing health services and can worsen the clinical severity of cases, particularly where complications exist.
RC Senyamule made the remarks recently during the launch of m-mama programme in Dodoma at which she paid tribute to Vodafone Tanzania for its collaboration aimed at saving lives of women in the region and the nation at large.
She said the initiative was in line with the government’s effort to reduce maternal deaths as directed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“Emergency transport for expectant mothers and newborns is important for saving lives, thus this initiative will help save lives,” she said.
The RC expressed optimism that from the reported success in Shinyanga, the programme will help bring the needed changes in Dodoma region.
Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Dr Fatma Mganga noted that the programme launched in Dodoma in April, 2022 by stakeholders’ would improve maternal services.
“If the issue of emergency transport is given the desired weight, it would help save lives, especially of expectant women and children,” she said.
The RC thanked Vodafone for launching the programme in the region, vowing that Dodoma would not lag behind in such initiatives. Dodoma region launched ‘m-mama’, a programme that uses mobile technology to connect pregnant women to emergency transport.
At the core of m-mama is a cost-effective emergency transport system to significantly reduce maternal mortality in areas with limited or inefficient ambulance services.
The system uses a network of local taxi drivers to act as ‘taxi ambulances’ in areas where ambulances are rarely available:
When the patient makes a free call to a 24/7 dispatch centre, a call handler assesses the patient’s condition using the m-mama app, which indicates whether the patient needs transferring to a health facility.
If healthcare is required, the nearest taxi ambulance driver is identified on the m-mama app and receives a request to take the woman to the closest health facility.
On safe arrival, the driver is paid instantly for the journey via M-Pesa (Vodacom’s mobile money transfer system).
The development comes at a time when records show that the region recorded 63 maternal deaths between January and August, 2022. It has managed to reduce the deaths to 74/100,000 in 2021, down from 102/100,000 in 2020.
The m-mama uses mobile technology to connect pregnant women to care when they need it the most, and working to reduce rates of maternal mortality, identified as the number one health challenge by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The mobile service has been developed by Vodacom Tanzania Foundation and Vodafone Foundation that provides emergency transport for pregnant and postpartum women.
Speaking during the launch, Vodafone Foundation’s m-mama Director, Dolorosa Duncan said the program was co-created by Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, Vodafone Foundation and the government and was successfully piloted in six districts including Shinyanga and Sengerema.
She said it was initially planned for 15 regions but funds have been increased and it will now be rolled out in 26 regions in the country.
“We are grateful for the cooperation shown by regional officials on this launch and expect successful implementation within the given time frame” said
