02Jun

Emergency Dispatch Saving Pregnant Women in Nairobi During Curfew

June 2, 2020 Ordia 38

In Kenya, just like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, pregnant mothers face the grim reality of losing their babies due to a lack of proper transportation to health facilities. Salome, a 27-year-old mother is one such case. On the 23rd of May at around midnight she started experiencing labour pains and her water broke at home. Having lost her first baby, she was determined to deliver her second baby safely so she dialed 1196 and Wheels for Life sent a taxi to take her to Huruma Nursing Home.

At Huruma Nursing Home, Salome’s labour was progressing poorly, Dr. “Jane” from Wheels for Life made a call to Rescue.co at 2.04 am requesting an ambulance to transfer Salome to Pumwani Maternity Hospital. The ambulance was dispatched four minutes later and completed her transfer in 17 minutes. Rescue.co had notified Pumwani of Salome’s condition and when she arrived she underwent an emergency cesarean section which saved both their lives.

Speaking after her delivery, Salome credited the Wheels for Life initiative for her health and that of her baby, saying, “Were it not for this initiative, I would have walked to the hospital and am not sure the baby and I would have been fine. God bless the work of your hands that you may continue to help those in need.”

The Wheels for Life initiative is a collaboration between Rescue.co, the Ministry of Health Kenya, AMREF, Bolt, Pharmaccess Foundation, Kenya Healthcare Federation, and Telesky that seeks to get expectant mothers to the hospital during curfew hours. As part of the initiative, a call centre managed by TeleSky has been set up that routes emergency calls to volunteer physicians. Calls that require an ambulance are directed to Rescue.co’s dispatch centre while those that can be handled by a taxi are dispatched to a Bolt taxi.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges women face to deliver their children. In Makueni County alone, there has been an increase in maternal mortality by a factor of 14, with four deaths in one-week post-curfew versus 15 deaths in the previous year. The high numbers in mortality rates can be attributed to poor transportation and health facilities being reassigned for COVID-19 response, with some major public hospitals converting their maternity wards into Infectious Disease Units.

Since the Wheels for Life initiative began on April 28th, 2020, the team has fielded 3,714 calls, dispatched 198 taxis, and 60 ambulances. All of the women who have used this service have survived, and dozens of babies have been born. The calls have ranged in severity, with the most extreme ones being related to cord prolapses, hypertension, reduced fetal movement and distress, preterm labor, and severe bleeding pre and post-delivery. Their fast response rates have helped save the lives of an average of 8 mothers every night.

Caitlin Dolkart, Rescue.co Co-founder said the partnership with Villgro Kenya has given them the necessary support they need to continue saving lives.

“We are thrilled to be working with Villgro to extend our Rescue.co services to those most in need. The grant will provide us funding to serve over 150 more mothers, and welcome 150 more babies into this world. This is one of those obvious solutions with unbelievable clear impact, and we will also use this funding to galvanise funding support from donors, the private sector, and the government.”

While the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are sure to remain with us for a long time, measures like the Wheels for Life initiative promise mothers the hope that regardless of the new normal they have a partner during their journey.

13May

Villgro Kenya Invests $50,000 in The Pathology Network

May 13, 2020 Ordia 70

Villgro Kenya announced an investment of $50,000 to The Pathology Network, a digital referral platform for pathologists in Kenya

Kenya has over 47,000 new cancer cases and 33,000 cancer-related deaths annually with a limited number of cancer diagnosis centres and Pathologists translating to delays in diagnosing cancer early enough for treatment.

The Pathology Network-An Artificial Intelligence-powered digital platform linking small labs to specialized labs for seamless tests referral with access to specialists remotely to shorten the turn around time for diagnosis, promoting early medical intervention for prevention and treatment.

Through The Pathology Network Platform, small labs refer the specimen to specialized regional labs for processing and slide digitization in readiness for a Pathologist to diagnose and report on the cases remotely.

Dr Joshua Kibera, Chief Executive Officer at The Pathology Network Limited termed the investment as catalytic and stated that the company would also greatly benefit from the technical assistance and business coaching offered by Villgro Kenya team.

“On behalf of everyone at The Pathology Network, I would like to thank Villgro Kenya for a meticulous and transparent due diligence process and for choosing to invest in our company. We are excited to partner with VK and look forward to revolutionizing the diagnostic space together.”

“This investment comes at a time when most investors are scaling back on deals due to the business slump being experienced in many parts as a result of COVID-19. At Villgro Kenya, we strongly feel that this is the time that enterprises need all the financial support that they can get to cushion themselves against the negative economic impact of COVID-19. We are proud to play a small role in ensuring that startups outlive the pandemic.” Wilfred – Co-founder at Villgro Kenya.

22Apr

Practical solutions for startups during the COVID-9 Pandemic

April 22, 2020 Ordia 58

With the COVID-19 pandemic running into the 2nd month since the first case was announced in Kenya, there has been a shift in the operations of startups and Small and Medium Enterprises. The rising cases coupled with government imposed restrictions on movement should however not spell gloom and doom to entrepreneurs.

While some businesses have been forced to shut down others have since pivoted their business models and operations to best suit the current times. The COVID-19 challenge has revealed a crop of new innovators who are designing solutions to meet the unexpected needs that have risen from the pandemic. This is a trend we can hope to see in the coming months with more innovations emerging within the healthcare, logistics, remote working solutions and productivity software sectors. For impact investors, this is an opportunity to acquire a new pipeline while continuing to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs.

Even as the virus continues to spread startups can ensure they come out of the crisis stronger. To begin with they have to leverage their board of directors, advisors and mentors who may have been through past downturns and have seen various strategies that best work in these times. They can help the team think through various scenarios they can take to ensure the business survives.

As companies are re-evaluating their operations to reduce costs, salaries may have been the first item on the list. It is important for companies to reduce their cash-burn and increase their runway as much as possible. In the case where employees have been asked to take pay cuts, startups can consider trading cash for equity in the company. This will motivate the team as they feel they have a stake and believe in the vision for the company in the future.

Keep a lookout for opportunities your company can explore during this time. If there is a way you can pivot or change some of your core business to be part of a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, grab the opportunity and do it. This will diversify your operations and provide a source of income. A good example is Kijenzi, a 3D printing company with a focus on hospital equipment that has taken to producing social distancing aids like touchless door openers and face shields among other PPE’s.

As you monitor the situation, there are numerous resources that are available for companies with solutions to the COVID-19 virus. Take advantage of this time to position your company as part of the solution and raise money towards fighting COVID-19. Startups can survive a time like this and if they are wise enough they can come out at the top. Ensure the safety of your employees and continue to follow government directives on social distancing and safety measures.