Grand Challenge:
Maternal Health
At the heart of our global healthcare mission lies the Grand Challenge, an ambitious initiative by the Inteleos Foundation aimed at transforming patient care and equity in healthcare through training, certification, and standardization.
Our vision is clear: Have every user of medical ultrasound across the world proficient and certified by 2030, ensuring patient safety and increasing equity in healthcare.
What if…
Every women’s health clinician was equipped, trained and certified in ultrasound, and every maternal patient had access to critical obstetric scans?
Grand Challenge: A Collective Impact Framework to Address Maternal Health Disparities
By 2030, every user of medical ultrasound worldwide will not only be proficient but also certified – a benchmark that promises enhanced patient safety and an equitable healthcare landscape for all.
To Achieve Our Goal We:
- Work with local and regional health experts to develop ultrasound standards that reflect the needs of the community
- Educate and train midwives, nurses, and clinical officers
- Verify healthcare providers’ knowledge, skills, and abilities through assessment and certification
- Leverage and assist in the distribution of ultrasound technology and equipment
- Ensure a pipeline of local trainers, sustainable proficiency, and access to working devices
Maternal Health By The Numbers
%
Only 17 Percent
Of mothers receive basic maternal and fetal health interventions in low-income countries.
%
Of women in sub-Saharan Africa receive the WHO recommended four antenatal visits.
810 Daily
Average number of women who died from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth in 2017.
How Ultrasound Can Change the Game
Starting in Kenya, the Inteleos Foundation is prioritizing community partnership and collaboration to combat high maternal mortality rates through policy and sustainable implementation of education, workforce development, and certification.
Through the promotion and adoption of ultrasound technology we:
- Empower Healthcare Providers: Equip professionals with essential ultrasound skills for better clinical decisions.
- Reduce Maternal Mortality: Aim for a 10% reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity in areas like Kenya within five years.
- Foster Socioeconomic Growth: Strengthen healthcare infrastructure through task expansion, creating professional and educational opportunities for a majority female workforce.
- Impact Global Health: Primary clinicians certified in basic obstetric ultrasound can transform patient care, reduce wait times, and enhance community acceptance and access to ultrasound.
Our Impact In Kenya
Maternal Health Grand Challenge is targeting maternal fetal health in Kenya due to the high maternal mortality rates, which stand at 342 deaths per 100,000 births, representing approximately 0.02% of the female population.
Our strategy is to to develop a specialized curriculum designed to train and equip skilled birth attendants and clinical officers with ultrasound in both rural and urban environments, which will be driven by local clinical leadership in Kenya.
This training will help in reducing the daily death toll and work towards the goal of decreasing maternal and fetal morbidity by 10% within five years.
Our Partners
We are proud to collaborate with a distinguished network of partners who are as committed to transforming maternal healthcare as we are. The following partners bring invaluable expertise, resources, and dedication to our Grand Challenge, making a profound impact on communities worldwide.
