Dear subscriber,
For an expectant mother in Africa, the weather can become a health concern. Growing evidence of heat’s effects on pregnancy gives healthcare providers another reason to improve maternity services.
Treezer Michelle Atieno - Editor
There is growing evidence in Africa of how extreme heat creates risks for pregnant women. This offers an opportunity for healthcare providers to add heat warnings to antenatal care, adequate staff trained on climate-health and faster referral systems. Suppliers of cooling systems could also help hospitals reduce heat exposure in maternity wards
Jacaranda Health in Kenya is already testing heat alerts through PROMPTS, its maternal-health messaging service. Building on an existing platform offers a practical starting point. Hospitals considering similar services would need to establish the cost of follow-up and who would fund continued delivery.
A Wellcome survey across five countries, including Zimbabwe, supports the case for action: 73% of maternity professionals surveyed reported increasing heat-related cases or complications, while 92% wanted more training and resources. These findings demonstrate a need for improved maternal services.
Our take: Healthcare providers have an opportunity to make climate protection part of routine maternal care…Read more (2 min)
Portable tuberculosis tests are moving to eight African countries, under an initiative by the Global Fund, targeting nearly three million tests by year-end. The World Health Organisation has also expanded its prequalification programme to include artificial-intelligence software that screens chest X-rays for tuberculosis.
In Zambia, the Pikabu programme uses Butterfly ultrasound technology to help frontline staff estimate how far along a pregnancy is. Dawa Health’s DawaMom combines screening with remote clinical support in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Pathfinder is developing a rapid blood test to help clinicians identify the likely cause of childhood fever.
These tools could help patients get tests and assessments closer to home, with fewer journeys to distant laboratories or specialist facilities.
Our take: Portable tools could spare patients long journeys and bring more assessments into local clinics…Read more (2 min)
Primary-care providers need dependable income to keep services affordable and finance expansion. Ajay Wasserman, founder of Fio Capital, argues that combining employer contracts, insurance payments and public funding could reduce reliance on patients paying at each visit, giving clinics a stronger foundation for investment.
Employers, insurers and governments also benefit from patients receiving treatment early, he argues. “That value is shared across several parties, which is why the patient should not always be expected to carry the full bill alone,” says Mr Wasserman.
He proposes financing networks that connect consultations with tests, medicines and referrals. Investors should look for demonstrated patient demand and reliable payments, alongside clinical quality and completed referrals, before backing further expansion.
Read the full opinion…Read more (2 min)
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Gates Foundation and Wellcome Leap commit $100 million to prevent stillbirths in Africa
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Kenneth Okolie, Chief Executive Officer of Synlab Nigeria, says, “If labs and hospitals run flawless operations but the rest of the diagnostic ecosystem remains fragmented, the patient still loses downstream.”