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April 2021, Philips Foundation hosted its first webinar of a series on strengthening access to quality healthcare for underserved communities. In this first webinar, we focused on the role of technology and how sustainable ultrasound screening models help prevent maternal and neonatal mortality in vulnerable communities.
About You'll hear from experts about the lessons learned on access to ultrasound in limited-resource settings, including learnings on the feasibility of task sharing, training, diagnosis, health-seeking behavior, and business model aspects. You can watch the recording, or read our editorial based on the discussions that took place during the webinar:
Background information The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one ultrasound scan before 24 weeks gestation to help identify pregnancy outcome risks. The 24-week period is vital to accurately estimate the gestational age, improve the detection of fetal abnormalities, and detect multiple pregnancies. Despite the well-known benefits, diagnostic imaging is insufficiently available in rural and remote areas in low resource settings, much remains to be done. In recent years, about 830 pregnant women die every day from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Maternal mortality remains high due to a lack of access to skilled care, communication within and between health facilities, and limited information at the community and primary health care level. A great majority of these deaths occur in fragile community settings with limited access to healthcare. If technology and science had been within reach, would these deaths have been prevented?
Confirmed speakers
Dr. Eunice Ndirangu joined the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa in 2006 as an Assistant Lecturer. Since then, she has worked as a Senior Instructor and Academic Head before becoming Interim Dean in 2019. Dr. Ndirangu's areas of expertise and interest have focused largely on the sociological aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support, and health policy and nursing education. Dr. Ndirangu has studied the intersection of health and education-training programs to address the practice gap in sexual healthcare. She published extensively throughout her academic career on a wide variety of topics. Click here to read moreClick here to read less
Prof. Marleen Temmerman is a well-recognized global leader in women, child and adolescent health. Since 2015 she is Chair Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Aga Khan University Hospital and Director Centre of Excellence in Women & Child Health at Aga Khan University. Prior she was the Director of the Department of Reproductive Health & Research at the WHO. She has a strong academic and scientific background with over 700 publications and books in the area of women’s health. She has supervised many PhD students in Europe, Africa, Latin-America and China and received several awards and honors for her research, policy and advocacy work. Click here to read moreClick here to read less
Mrs. Priscilla Ngunju is the Project Coordinator for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health projects at the Amref International University. She leads the implementation of projects that positively impact the health of mothers and their children. Priscilla has coordinated a Leadership, Management and Governance in midwifery services project in five Sub Saharan countries. She has managed a social entrepreneurship project in two Kenyan counties and currently managing the obstetric ultrasound screening for midwives’ project in four counties. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Nairobi and is driven by results of impactful work especially for women and children. Click here to read moreClick here to read less
Panelists Margot Cooijmans Director of Philips Foundation Prof. Kristen DeStigter Co-Founder Imaging the World Dr. Aleena Durrani Regional Manager, Corporate Health & Wellness at doctHERs Angela Kamakil Siteyi Director Health Innovations Kenya at PharmAccess Dr. Isaak Bashir Head of the Department of Family Health at Ministry of Health, Kenya Dr. Matthijs Groot Wassink General Manager for Access and Obstetric Ultrasound at Philips