Casualty

Globally, the problem of inadequate emergency medical response is also significant, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 45 million annual deaths in LMICs, 54% are due to conditions addressable by prehospital and emergency care. 

In Kenya, access to healthcare services is limited, particularly in rural areas. According to a report by the Ministry of Health, less than 50% of Kenyans have access to emergency medical services. This means that many people in Kenya are unable to access emergency medical care when they need it, leading to preventable deaths and disabilities. The factors contributing to the problem of inadequate emergency medical response in Kenya include a shortage of trained medical professionals, a lack of emergency medical equipment and facilities, and inadequate ambulance services.

Technology can play a significant role in improving access to emergency medical information and services in Kenya and globally. For instance, mobile technology can be leveraged to connect people to emergency medical care services and information. 

The Casualty App by Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation is an excellent example of how mobile technology can address a critical healthcare challenge in low-resource settings. By connecting people with emergency medical care information and services, the app can help to bridge the gap between those needing emergency medical care and the help they need. The app's first aid information, emergency contacts, ambulance contacts, and information on the nearest emergency healthcare facilities in Kenya can help people make informed decisions in a medical emergency.

The app's feature of providing healthcare providers with evidence-based guidelines for handling emergencies is also a significant advantage, particularly in areas where healthcare professionals are scarce or inexperienced in emergency medical care. The app's guidelines can help healthcare providers make more informed decisions and provide better care to patients needing emergency medical attention.

The offline feature is a significant advantage, particularly in low-resource settings where access to the internet is limited. The offline feature ensures that users can access critical emergency medical care information and services, even when they don't have an internet connection.

The Casualty App has the potential to make a significant impact in Kenya, where access to emergency medical care is limited. It can help to save lives and reduce disabilities by providing timely and effective emergency medical care.

The Casualty App can have a significant impact on the lives of Kenyans in several ways. Firstly, the app can provide users with access to emergency medical care information and services, thus improving their chances of receiving timely and effective emergency medical care in case of a medical emergency. This can help to save lives and reduce disabilities caused by preventable medical conditions.

Secondly, the app can provide healthcare providers with evidence-based guidelines for handling emergencies, particularly when healthcare professionals are scarce or inexperienced in emergency medical care. This can help healthcare providers make more informed decisions and provide better care to patients needing emergency medical attention, thus improving the quality of emergency medical care.

Thirdly, the app can help bridge the gap between people needing emergency medical care and the help they need, particularly in areas with limited access to emergency medical services. By providing users with information on the nearest emergency healthcare facilities and ambulance contacts, the app can connect users to emergency medical care services that can provide immediate assistance in case of medical emergencies.

Overall, the app has the potential to significantly impact Kenyans' lives by improving access to emergency medical care information and services, improving the quality of emergency medical care, and bridging the gap between people needing emergency medical care and the help they need.

The Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a Kenyan-based NGO supporting emergency healthcare providers across Kenya to save lives by strengthening the emergency healthcare system through capacity building, knowledge development, advocacy and research. It was established to address the gaps in emergency medical care in Kenya. The team behind the foundation comprises professionals, including emergency medical care experts with extensive experience in emergency medicine and an understanding of Kenyans' unique challenges.

To understand the needs of Kenyans, the EMKF team engages with local communities, including patients, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. The foundation conducts research and needs assessments to determine the specific needs of different communities and how emergency medical care can be improved to meet those needs. This information is used to inform the design and implementation of the Casualty App.

The design and implementation of the Casualty App have been meaningfully guided by Kenyans' input, ideas, and agendas. The foundation has engaged with local communities through various channels, including community meetings, focus group discussions, and surveys. The feedback received has been used to refine the features and functionality of the app to ensure that it meets the needs of Kenyans.

The foundation has also partnered with other organizations, including the government and other NGOs, to ensure that the app is aligned with the broader healthcare priorities of the country. The foundation recognizes that meaningful engagement with stakeholders is critical to the success of the app and the overall goal of improving emergency medical care in Kenya.

All this ensures that the Casualty App is designed and implemented to address Kenyans' specific needs. The foundation's engagement with stakeholders is ongoing, and user feedback is used to continuously improve the app and ensure that it remains relevant and valuable to the community.

The app currently has 3,000+ downloads in the Google Play & App Store. 

Increasing awareness of the Casualty App and its benefits is essential to increase its uptake among Kenyans. We want to leverage various channels to increase awareness, including social media, radio, TV, and community outreach programs. Additionally, we also want to partner with local organizations and community leaders to help spread the word about the app's benefits and encourage people to download and use it. We also plan to work with the government and other stakeholders to integrate the app into existing emergency medical response systems, making it more widely accessible.

Furthermore, we would like to conduct more surveys and gather feedback from current users to improve the app's features and functionality continuously. This will help to address any gaps or challenges that may be preventing more people from using the app.

Overall, we would like support to run a comprehensive awareness-raising campaign that involves partnerships, feedback gathering, and continuous improvement to help increase the app's uptake among Kenyans and potentially save many lives.

The Casualty App has the potential to make a significant impact on the healthcare sector in Kenya. Its focus on improving access to emergency medical care services and providing users with the necessary emergency medical care information to make informed decisions is an innovative approach to bridging the gap between those needing emergency medical care and the help they need. This is an essential step towards improving the overall quality of emergency healthcare services in the country, which could have far-reaching lifesaving benefits.

The app's use of location-based technology to connect users with the nearest emergency care centre is particularly noteworthy, as it could help reduce travel times and improve outcomes in medical emergencies. This is especially important in Kenya, where access to ambulance services can be challenging, particularly in rural areas. 

The app also has the potential to catalyze positive impacts in the healthcare sector in Kenya. By improving access to emergency medical care information and services, the app could help improve the country’s health metrics, especially around maternal and child health and reduce the burden on the country's health system, which is often overburdened and under-resourced. 

In terms of its potential to change the market, by providing information on emergency care centres, the app could promote the growth of emergency medical care services in the healthcare sector by increasing competition among medical providers, as users are empowered to make informed decisions about where to access emergency medical care. This could ultimately improve the quality and accessibility of emergency medical care services nationwide. 

Additionally, the app could help to create new opportunities for innovation in other areas of the healthcare sector as providers seek to leverage technology to improve the quality and accessibility of their services. Overall, the Casualty App represents an innovative and potentially transformative solution to the challenges of accessing emergency medical care information and services in Kenya. While its impact remains to be seen, it has the potential to catalyze positive change in the healthcare sector, promoting greater transparency and accessibility in emergency medical care.

We have adopted a theory of change to set out the various contributory outcomes that must be achieved to bring about our vision of an emergency healthcare system in Kenya that saves lives and improves the baseline situation. Achieving more than 60% awareness and access to emergency medical care information and services through the casualty app in the next year and 100% in the next five years has the potential to address the interconnected deficiencies experienced by individuals, ambulance services and health facilities limiting their capability and capacity to handle medical emergencies and achieve a 50% reduction in morbidity and mortality from medical emergencies in Kenya.

We have identified the following necessary steps that will help us achieve this:

Marketing and Outreach: We plan to promote the app through various marketing channels, including social media, search engine optimization, email marketing, and partnerships with relevant organizations. The marketing will target the app's intended audience, including individuals, organizations, and communities. Outreach to organizations like schools, universities, and hospitals will be instrumental in increasing awareness.

User-Friendly Design: The app has a simple and user-friendly design that makes it easy for people to use. This includes easy-to-understand language, straightforward navigation, and prominent call-to-action buttons. We plan to continue enhancing the app's design based on user feedback and surveys with the users.

Partnerships: We plan to partner with medical professionals and emergency responders to ensure users can access the latest and most accurate medical information. This will include partnerships with hospitals, ambulance services, and medical professionals in Kenya. These partnerships will also help improve the quality of emergency medical care information available on the app.

Incentives: We plan to offer incentives to users who refer others to the app or who use the app to access emergency medical care information and services. For example, users could receive discounts on medical services or products if they use the app to access information or services.

Continuous Improvement: We plan to continuously update and improve the app’s features and functionalities to meet users' needs. This will include incorporating user feedback, adding new features, and making the app accessible to people with disabilities.

Measuring impact: We continuously measure the impact of the casualty app by tracking the number of downloads and usage rates. We plan to measure the impact on morbidity and mortality rates from medical emergencies through RCTs and other methodologies. This information will be used to make informed decisions on how to improve the app's effectiveness. 

Overall, achieving more than 60% awareness and access to emergency medical care information and services through the casualty app in the next year and 100% in the next five years will require a comprehensive approach that includes marketing, user-friendly design, partnerships, incentives, and continuous improvement.

We continuously measure the impact of the casualty app by tracking the number of downloads and usage rates. We plan to measure the impact on morbidity and mortality rates from medical emergencies through RCTs and other methodologies. Currently, we track the following health metrics in Kenya that are improved by emergency medical care;

• maternal mortality ratio 
• neonatal mortality
• under-5 mortality 
• premature mortality from non-communicable diseases
• prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
• number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
• universal health coverage
• violence and related death rates 

Our theory of change is based on the belief that by strengthening emergency care systems in Kenya, we can improve health outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality rates. The following is an outline of our theory of change:

Inputs: Financial resources, human resources, partnerships, and infrastructure. These resources are used to support emergency care systems in Kenya.

Activities: Casualty app marketing, user-friendly design, partnerships, incentives, and continuous improvement.

Outputs: Increased casualty App downloads and usage

Short-term outcomes: 60%+ national awareness and access to emergency medical care information and services by 2024.

Long-term outcomes: Decreased premature mortality from emergency medical conditions through timely access to quality lifesaving emergency medical care 

Impact: Reduce morbidity and mortality in Kenya by up to 50% by 2030

Overall, our theory of change is based on the belief that the Casualty App can help Kenya improve its health outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality rates. We seek to build a sustainable emergency care system in Kenya.

The core technology behind the Casualty App includes geolocation technology to locate the user and find the nearest emergency medical care centre, real-time communication features to connect users with emergency medical care providers, and the ability to access evidence-based emergency medical care information. These features work together to provide users quick access to emergency medical care services and information, which can be critical in life-threatening situations.

At Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation, we have developed and implemented policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization. This includes initiatives such as:

Diversity recruitment: We actively seek to recruit and hire a diverse workforce, which includes individuals from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Inclusive policies: We have created policies and practices that are inclusive and that promote equity, such as ensuring equal pay and benefits for all employees and offering flexible work arrangements.

Community outreach: We engage with diverse communities and build relationships with county governments to better understand and serve their community needs.

Inclusive leadership: We ensure that leadership within the organization is diverse and inclusive, with a commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in all aspects of the organization's work.

Diversity training: We plan to train employees and volunteers on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues to increase awareness and promote a more inclusive workplace culture.

The Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a non-profit organization that aims to improve emergency medical care in Kenya through education, training, and advocacy. As a non-profit organization, EMKF's primary focus is on fulfilling its mission to improve emergency medical care rather than generating revenue or profit.

EMKF relies on a combination of funding sources to support its operations and programs. These sources include grants, donations from individuals and corporations, and fundraising events. The organization also partners with other non-profit organizations and government agencies to implement its programs. Approximately 80% of our funding comes from grants and 20% from our fundraising/social entrepreneurship initiatives, including emergency care training, consulting and merchandising. 

EMKF's business model involves working with emergency healthcare services to improve infrastructure, equipment and processes and delivering emergency medical education and training programs to healthcare professionals, first responders, and the public. The organization also advocates for policy changes and conducts research that improves emergency medical care in Kenya. EMKF's programs are designed to be sustainable, with the goal of building local capacity to deliver emergency medical care and reducing reliance on outside resources.

Diversify Funding Sources: We have diversified our funding sources beyond just donations by seeking out grants and partnerships with other organizations, as well as exploring opportunities for earned income through our conference, selling merchandise and providing emergency medical care training and consultancy.

Increase Visibility: The foundation has improved its visibility through marketing and public relations efforts. This includes using social media, partnering with other organizations, and hosting events to raise awareness about our work.

Develop a Strong Board: We have a strong and diverse board of directors with expertise in finance, law, marketing, and emergency medical care. The board provides valuable guidance and helps the organization make strategic decisions.

Embrace Technology: The foundation has leveraged technology to improve its operations and outreach efforts. We use google workspace and are currently migrating to Zoho One to improve the efficiency of our office operations. We also use different fundraising platforms to reach a wider audience.

This has seen an over 190% growth in our revenue in just one year from 2021 to 2022.