Field tackles maternal mortality in Africa with $11M backing from Gates foundation

African healthtech company Field has launched a new route-to-market service to address maternal mortality, newborn health, and nutrition.

African healthtech company Field has launched a route-to-market service to introduce emerging therapies aimed at addressing maternal mortality, newborn health, and nutrition.

The initiative is backed by $11 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and leverages Field’s proprietary technology, distribution network, and financing services.

Field’s platform powers over 40,000 healthcare providers across rural and urban areas in Kenya and Nigeria, offering a streamlined approach to healthcare delivery.

Since 2015, the company has facilitated over 800 million health interventions across 60 therapeutic areas, including family planning, HIV, and Tuberculosis.

The service will accelerate access to innovative treatments, such as heat-stable carbetocin and calibrated drapes for postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality in Africa. This effort is part of one of the continent’s most ambitious maternal health programs, with plans to expand beyond Kenya and Nigeria.

Field’s CEO, Michael Moreland, highlighted the importance of technology in transforming healthcare, saying, “This is public health powered by technology. With Gates Foundation funding, we are set to rapidly improve mother and child survival across all settings.”

Moreland also emphasized that the success of the initiative depends on a coordinated approach, involving governments, manufacturers, and other key stakeholders. The initiative includes a digital overhaul for private healthcare providers and the installation of pharma-grade refrigerators for improved day-to-day operations.

As maternal mortality remains a significant issue in Africa—where a woman is 45 times more likely to die in childbirth than in Europe—the urgency of this program cannot be understated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa accounted for 69% of global maternal deaths in 2020, with Nigeria alone responsible for 29%.

The new initiative aims to introduce emerging therapies while also addressing complications like preeclampsia. Field is also looking to expand its distribution services and financing options to strengthen operations and purchasing capabilities within healthcare systems.