MAMA: Increasing Uptake of Maternal Health Services Through Mobile Phone Platforms

By: Mabinty A. Koroma, Communications Officer, MAMA, United Nations Foundation

During the panel presentation, “Increasing uptake of maternal health services through mobile phone platforms,” on January 17th at the Global Maternal Health Conference 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania, the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) Global Director, Kirsten Gagnaire shared several insights regarding scale, sustainability, and impact of mobile health initiatives aimed at engaging mothers in developing countries.

Gagnaire discussed one of MAMA’s major milestones, the national launch of mobile health service ‘Aponjon’ led by MAMA Bangladesh and implementing partner, D.Net.

In Bangladesh, MAMA is currently engaging over 15,000 subscribers with a goal of reaching 2 million moms by 2015. Listen to some sample messages used in MAMA Bangladesh, developed with the support of MNCH experts and real moms.

Click here to listen to some examples of mobile voice messages. MAMA Bangladesh’s mobile service, Aponjon has also received a favorable response from real moms, including Asha Rani, mom of two in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Click here for a short film about her story.

In addition, Gagnaire provided a snapshot of work in South Africa and the roll out of MAMA in India.

Click here for a summary of the abstracts presented during the panel presentation. Stay tuned to www.gmhc2013.com to access the video of the presentation. (It should be available by early next week.)

Learn more about MAMA here.

Follow MAMA on Twitter: @MAMAGlobal

Join the conference conversation on Twitter: #GMHC2013.