A Medical Kit has Managed to Reduce Maternal Mortality by 35% in Guatemala

 In 2013, almost 300,000 women died from the complications related to pregnancy or birth, according to facts from the World Health Organization. The organization calculates that 99% of these deaths occur in underdeveloped regions and that in most cases could be avoided if had patients had had access to quality health care, during and after birth. 

With the objective of reducing these figures, Ashoka, the best international network of socially innovative entrepreneurs, has decided to support the Healthy Pregnancy initiative, promoted by the NGO Hispano-American Health Link. The director of Opinno, Pedro Moneo, has been the project mentor, delegated by Ashoka in Spain, since June.

To achieve this and to be able to detect in time possible complications associated with pregnancy where medical resources aren’t sufficient, the initiative has developed a portable medical kit able to perform ultrasound scans and blood and urine tests. Its weight, less than three kilos, simplifies its transport and accessibility. Also, it has a solar panel that guarantees its use in situations where there is no electricity.

The experiment phase on a total of 1000 patients has saved the lives of 5 women and 31 infants. During the amplification in Guatemala the kit has been tested on 762 pregnant women and has managed to reduce maternal mortality by 25%. Furthermore, there has been a 60% decrease in emergency transfers and the costs that come from the treatment of patients that suffer from side effects post-birth.

The kit can be used on 400 patients a year. The Hispano-American Health Link offers Institutions responsible for rural health care the option of hiring the kits or rucksacks and is also in charge of user training and quality control. The company is also responsible for the maintenance of the rucksack, insuring it from theft and accidents.

The spectacular results achieved have encouraged public and private investors to support the initiative in order to increase the sample to 100,000 women. The Hispano-American Health Link foresees that 1000 lives could be saved when the project is up and running. When it has expanded to another four countries, another 2,500 lives will be added to that total, presenting a total of five million dollars for the Institutions responsible for rural health care in these regions.

Ashoka consists in an independent global organization without lucrative gains that supports social innovation and entrepreneurialism and that also tries to build a society of citizens that promote change. Its attitude supports the work of over 3000 social innovators in 84 countries. They also try to support entrepreneurs willing to find solutions for serious social problems using disruptive and innovative ideas.

Social entrepreneurialism creates a base that Opinno considers necessary in order to build a community of healthy innovation that allows the complex problems of today's society to be resolved quickly. Projects such as the one being supported now defines the vision the company has of the world innovation and entrepreneurialism, and supposes the growth of Opinno’s values.