In a major boost to Africa’s healthcare sector, Field, a leading African healthtech company, has secured an $11 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing maternal mortality, newborn health, and child nutrition across the continent. This financial backing underscores the critical need to enhance healthcare systems in Africa, where maternal mortality remains one of the most pressing public health challenges.
The new initiative will utilize Field’s proprietary technology platform and vast network of over 40,000 private and public healthcare providers in rural and urban areas across Kenya and Nigeria. By delivering emerging therapies and improving the distribution and financing of essential medical supplies, the initiative will directly combat the causes of maternal and child deaths, making healthcare more accessible and efficient.
Maternal mortality rates in Africa are alarmingly high. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 69% of global maternal deaths occur on the continent, with Nigeria alone contributing to 29% of these deaths in 2020. A woman in Africa is 45 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to her counterparts in Europe.
Field’s initiative is designed to change this dire situation by providing access to life-saving interventions for expectant mothers. Among the emerging therapies being introduced are heat-stable carbetocin and calibrated drapes, which help detect and treat postpartum hemorrhage—the leading cause of maternal deaths in Africa. These interventions will help prevent complications like preeclampsia and will be made accessible across a range of healthcare settings, from rural clinics to urban hospitals.
Field’s success lies in its ability to integrate technology with healthcare services, creating efficient, scalable systems that address Africa’s unique healthcare challenges. Since its founding in 2015, the company has facilitated over 800 million health interventions across more than 60 therapeutic areas, including family planning, HIV, and tuberculosis.
This new maternal and child health initiative will expand upon Field’s already impressive infrastructure by introducing advanced technologies such as digitized healthcare systems and pharma-grade refrigerators for last-mile delivery of medicines and supplies. In addition, Field will offer financing solutions to strengthen the operational and purchasing power of healthcare providers, ensuring they have the resources to deliver high-quality care.
Field’s approach is not just about technology and distribution; it’s about building partnerships. The initiative will bring together governments, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders to create a comprehensive coalition aimed at transforming maternal and child healthcare across the continent.
By working together, these entities will create a sustainable route to market for emerging therapies, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations have access to life-saving treatments. This coalition-based model has the potential to reshape public health systems across Africa.
Speaking on the significance of this initiative, Michael Moreland, CEO and Founder of Field, emphasized the importance of using technology to power large-scale public health programs. “This is public health powered by technology,” said Moreland. He highlighted that Field’s services, which have been developed and refined over the past eight years, are now being integrated into large-scale public health programs that could drastically improve healthcare outcomes in Africa.
Moreland also acknowledged the tough economic climate and the challenges facing the healthcare sector but remained optimistic. “Our role is to ensure that the progress we’ve made doesn’t slip. The problems facing healthcare in Africa will not be solved on their own, and that’s where Field and our funders come in.”
In addition to its maternal and child health initiative, Field continues to expand its impact across the continent. Through Field Supply, the company has created the largest pharmaceutical supply chain platform in Africa, distributing over 3,000 quality products across 24 cities in Nigeria and Kenya. This extensive network serves a range of clients, from large hospital systems and government facilities to small, family-operated pharmacies.
The platform also offers trade financing to help healthcare providers invest in new medical technologies, further addressing the working capital constraints that often limit access to essential therapies and equipment.
