AI is changing maternal care in Kisumu County

For the first time, AI-powered point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) will be deployed at scale in community health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya.

These small, handheld devices bring early risk detection straight to the community — pregnancies monitored sooner, complications spotted in time, and referrals made faster. No specialist needed. No long journey to a distant clinic.

The results from the first BabyChecker, already deployed in Kisumu East, speak for themselves: 980 scans, 466 mothers reached. Around 1 in 5 pregnancies were flagged for further care — and referred in time. The other 80%? Reassured on the spot, sparing them a costly trip to a formal facility.

“This initiative brings lifesaving diagnostics closer to our communities and ensures that expectant mothers receive timely, quality care. With these additional machines, we can expand coverage across the sub-county and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.” — Dr Gregory Ganda, County Executive for Health, Kisumu County

The 15 machines are now being rolled out across 23 health facilities as part of SafeMamaTech, a partnership between PharmAccess and the Kisumu County Department of Health, supported by the Government of the Netherlands through Invest International.

This milestone shows what becomes possible when government, the private sector and innovators work together with a shared purpose: putting the right tools in the right hands, and making sure that every mother — no matter where she lives — gets the care she needs in time.