What is the name of your organization?
Ambulex Solutions Limited
What is the name of your solution?
On-Demand Emergency Care
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A mobile app connecting low-income Kenyans to rapid, affordable emergency care through decentralized EMTs and paramedics.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Nairobi, Kenya
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Kenya
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
In Kenya, lack of timely and affordable emergency medical services (EMS) is a critical barrier to health equity, especially for low-income families. Maternal mortality remains high at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022. For women experiencing gender-based violence (GBV), 41% of women aged 15–49 have faced physical or sexual violence, but few seek medical care due to stigma, safety concerns, and prohibitive costs (KDHS 2022).
The availability of EMS is severely limited. According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, fewer than 100 government ambulances are operational nationwide, and most are urban-based. In rural and peri-urban areas, response times can exceed an hour, leading to preventable deaths (MOH Emergency Medical Care Policy 2020–2030). Meanwhile, the cost of ambulance transport ranges from KES 5,000–15,000 ($35–$120)—far beyond the reach of the 36.1% of Kenyans living in poverty (World Bank, 2023).
What is your solution?
We have built Kenya’s first tech-enabled emergency medical response platform for low-income communities. Our solution is a mobile app that connects users to nearby trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and ambulances within 15 minutes. It’s designed for pregnant women, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), children, and families who cannot afford expensive private services.
The app works like a ride-hailing platform: when someone needs emergency help, they tap a button to request assistance. The app uses GPS to match them with the nearest available EMT or ambulance from our decentralized network. Our EMTs are based in different neighborhoods, making it easier to reach people quickly. We also offer a USSD option for those without smartphones.
The technology behind our platform includes real-time dispatch, GPS tracking, digital triage, and a backend dashboard for coordination. We partner with clinics, shelters, and hospitals to ensure smooth referrals and continuity of care.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our primary focus is low-income families who face daily risks without access to timely emergency care. This includes pregnant women in informal settlements, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and children in urban slums and rural areas. Many live in places where ambulances rarely go, and even if they do, the cost—often $50 or more—is simply unaffordable.
For expectant mothers, delays in reaching care contribute to Kenya’s high maternal mortality rate. GBV survivors often suffer in silence, with no safe, rapid way to reach medical or psychosocial support. Children face emergencies like burns, injuries, and respiratory distress—yet their caregivers have no reliable response system.
These communities are underserved by a healthcare system that does not prioritize emergency transport for the poor. Our solution gives them a lifeline: a mobile app and USSD code to call for trained EMTs or ambulances that can reach them within 15 minutes.
