MomCare: Stories from the field
MomCare is experienced differently by everyone involved.
These stories show how the approach works in practice.
A woman's story:
"We used to experience a high number of maternal deaths"
Restituta Kavishe, reproductive and child health coordinator in Tanzania’s Hanang district, says maternal deaths in local facilities fell over recent years, from 12 to 8 and then to 2.
She credits the dedication of midwives, supported by PharmAccess’s MomCare program and SafeCare initiative, implemented through government pilots.
“MomCare required us to test hemoglobin levels at every visit,” she explains. “We discovered many mothers had low levels, which put them at greater risk during childbirth.”
With better monitoring, improved preparation for expected deliveries, and community outreach encouraging facility-based births, Hanang district strengthened the way maternal care is delivered.
A provider's story
“Giving women the equipment and tests they need on time”
Hilda Mrema has been a nurse for 29 years and has worked at SIHA District Hospital for the past two decades. She describes a familiar gap in maternal care: services may be officially free, but facilities still face costs for tests, equipment, and delivery supplies. As a result, patients are often asked to bring essential items themselves.
“So, it comes to a point that we run short of tests and delivery equipment, and the mother is told to carry them with her as she comes to hospital,” she explains. In her experience, delays in accessing supplies can make childbirth riskier and harder for clinicians to manage.
“MomCare helps women get the equipment and tests they need on time, supporting safer deliveries and reducing avoidable barriers at the facility level,” she adds.
A payer's story
“We need to radically shift the way we’re doing things”
In Kenya’s Kisumu County, maternal mortality declined by about 30% over five years, from 495 to 343 deaths per 100,000 live births. Stronger community health services and more women delivering in better-equipped facilities contributed to this change.
Dr. Gregory Ganda, Kisumu County’s minister of health, reflected on the approach: “We need to radically shift the way we’re doing things.”
One shift focused on financing and quality: incentives were introduced based on the SafeCare Maternity Rating, rewarding facilities for meeting agreed standards of maternal care.
This is supported by the digital backbone being developed with partners and by BabyChecker, an AI-supported ultrasound tool designed to be used without specialist training.
Now, about 9 in every 10 women give birth in health facilities. A major change from previous years. Together, these efforts offer lessons for sustaining and deepening maternal health gains over time.
