Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

m-Money for Women with Fistula

last updated Aug 15, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
EngenderHealth
Implementation Partner(s): 
The Freedom from Fistula Foundation (FFF), Jamaa Mission Hospital (JMH)
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2010
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Out-of-pocket payments
Funders: 
U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID);The Freedom From Fistula Foundation

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › SMS/MMS (Text Message)
Technology Purpose: 
Facilitating Patient Communications

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
15 fistula patients per month. Over 1000 women each year
Summary: 

This program captures the potential of cell phones by improving women’s economic status, and the health and well-being of their families, through transfers of money through M-PESA for bus fare to a nearby hospital to receive Obstetric fistula (O.F) surgery. This program also trains local nurses and social workers in pre and post Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) operative care, rehabilitation of fistula victims, and advocacy for integration of VVF surgery in reproductive health programs in Kenya.

Program goals/rationale: 

Estimates show that a woman is seriously injured or disabled every 2 seconds while giving birth. About 2 million women in Africa live with obstetric fistula and another 100,000 develop the condition every year. More than 500,000 women die each year during pregnancy or childbirth, mostly in developing nations. 80% of these deaths are completely avoidable.

Most women have difficulty in accessing health services generally, and particularly fistula repair services because of the cost of transport to a health facility. This problem is compounded by the relative dearth of information about treatment options and the cost of repair, often leaving fistula treatment beyond the physical and financial reach of most women living with the condition.

Mobile banking has become a technological “lifeline” for many women and is reaching women in increasingly remote locations. At the same time, the global gender gap still prevents hundreds of millions of women from gaining access to mobile technology. The Freedom from Fistula Foundation (FFF) in Kenya has taken great strides in reducing these barriers. Using a combination of mobile banking, public information, and free treatment, they have helped make fistula repair a reality for women who were previously excluded from care.

Key program components: 

Potential patients are screened to ensure that they have a fistula, and if so, the logistics of their trip to Nairobi are arranged. FFF ascertains if the patient needs money for transport, and if she does, FFF sends her funds through M-PESA. An additional amount of 25 Kenyan shillings (US$0.30) is sent to cover transaction charges.

FFF provides a hotline with a 24/7 access number that women can call if they suspect they have a fistula. The caller will be asked a few questions and will then be given a date to come to a partner hospital for screening. If a fistula is discovered, they will get another date to return for their operation. FFF will arrange transport themselves to get women to the hospital if required.

FFF has secured two telephone numbers from the main providers in Kenya – Zain (0737 100800) and Safaricom (0718 100 000) which are being widely advertised, including on four branded minibuses which are being used in and around Nairobi. Any woman can access the system by calling or texting at any time.

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Making Mobile Phones Work for women with fistula.pdf2.23 MB
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