Inshuti ya Mama

ImpiloX

Inshuti ya Mama

Inshuti ya Mama is a maternal health platform that ensures rural moms get trusted pregnancy and newborn care.

Kigali, Rwanda

RWA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

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In Rwanda, maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, with approximately 248 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly above global targets. This crisis disproportionately affects rural women 1 in 44 face fatal complications during pregnancy or childbirth, compared to 1 in 4,300 in high-income countries. Over 70% of Rwandans live in rural areas, yet 25% of births occur without medical assistance. This is exacerbated by food insecurity, poor maternal nutrition, and limited knowledge of danger signs factors that contribute to preventable complications for 38% of pregnant women. Additionally, Rwanda's climate vulnerability worsens health access: floods and landslides frequently block roads, disrupt electricity, and sever emergency care routes. Many health centres in remote regions lack basic infrastructure or reliable power, further limiting care delivery. These challenges are not unique to Rwanda 94% of global maternal deaths occur in low-resource settings, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet most of these deaths are preventable through timely, accessible, and context-specific interventions. The core problem is not only a lack of infrastructure but a dangerous information gap - mothers often lack accurate, timely, and local-language health information that could save their lives and those of their newborns.

Inshuti ya Mama is an AI-powered maternal health platform that bridges the knowledge gap for pregnant and new mothers in rural Rwanda. Delivered via SMS and WhatsApp, the system sends personalised, stage-specific health guidance and answers health-related questions in Kinyarwanda, eliminating language and internet barriers. Built on Llama 3.1 with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), the platform delivers real-time medically verified content. Mothers can ask unlimited questions and receive immediate, context-specific responses. The system also pushes automated weekly updates, covering antenatal care, nutrition, postnatal tips, and emergency warning signs. What sets this apart is accessibility and resilience. The platform integrates with local mobile networks to ensure functionality even in areas with weak connectivity. Enrollment is supported by community health workers and clinics, enabling outreach to low-literacy and first-time users. A $1 monthly fee keeps the model affordable and sustainable while encouraging long-term engagement. Combining AI, local context, and inclusive mobile channels, Inshuti ya Mama ensures that no mother is left behind, offering life-saving advice when and where it's needed most, regardless of geography, income, or education level.

Inshuti ya Mama serves pregnant and postpartum women living in rural Rwanda, where maternal deaths are three times higher than in urban areas. These women often live far from health facilities, face language and literacy barriers, and experience disruptions to care due to floods, poor roads, and overstretched clinics. Many rely on informal advice or radio broadcasts, rarely providing personalised, timely, or accurate guidance. Our platform directly empowers these women with real-time, culturally relevant maternal health information via SMS and WhatsApp channels that are accessible even on basic phones. The platform addresses their needs: appointment reminders, nutrition tips, danger sign alerts, newborn care, and access to instant support in their local language. Beyond individual use, Inshuti ya Mama strengthens the broader health ecosystem. It enhances the impact of community health workers and clinics by providing educational reinforcement, flagging high-risk cases, and supporting ongoing maternal monitoring. Women feel heard, supported, and informed, which is crucial for improving health-seeking behaviours and reducing avoidable complications. Ultimately, this solution doesn't just deliver information; it restores dignity and agency to rural mothers, transforming maternal care from reactive to proactive and reducing mortality one message at a time.