Averaging around 4.4 births per woman, Senegal has one of the highest fertility rates in the world. Yet pregnancy is risky, especially in rural areas where as many as one in 19 women will die in childbirth. In addition, the lack of access to healthcare facilities significantly contributes to medical deserts. For some women, accessing the nearest hospital is a journey of many miles and is often poorly staffed and resourced. To address maternal mortality in Senegal, Awa Ndiaye leveraged her passion for information and communications technology (ICT) and innovation to found Njureel Telemedicine, a digital platform aiming to reduce barriers to quality maternal health services and strengthen the inclusion of ICT in healthcare.
Njureel, the first of its kind in Senegal, offers services such as video and voice teleconsultation with health providers, patient monitoring, geolocation for the nearest pharmacies and hospitals, and healthcare awareness content in local languages. In 2021, Awa graduated from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program, securing US$25K in USADF funding to support the set-up of Njureel Telemedicine. These funds went towards market research, identifying healthcare partners, the development of the platform, the purchase and installation of essential equipment and supplies, employment and staff training, and other activities related to the execution of the mobile service.
By the end of this project in 2021, Awa had recorded tremendous successes. Her team was able to carry out market research, which informed the development and launch of the platform. The Njureel team partnered with local healthcare providers to improve access for mobile platform users. They also secured support from key technical and institutional partners such as the President of Senegal, Mothers at Risk, SOS Médecins Senegal, and UN Women Senegal. The USADF grant enabled the Njureel team to offer instant access to medical care for 1,500 women and young adolescents.
The feedback received from market research prompted the Njureel team to train more than 60 community workers in the town of Yeumbeul, a suburb of Dakar, on issues related to the management of women’s sexual and reproductive health. In addition, they conducted multiple education programs on sexual and reproductive health, sensitizing 800 girls to intimate hygiene and violence in schools. This also provided an opportunity for educators to detect cases of sexual abuse and harassment among young girls and direct them to appropriate resources.
Since then, with a network of over 30 healthcare professionals, the platform has been tested in five private health structures, helping 8,000 women access health professionals. It has continued to grow and expand its services, including a short psychological helpline number, improving the maternal, reproductive, and sexual well-being of Senegal’s population—one girl or woman at a time.
Source: USADF