Lifesaving maternal transport system ‘m-mama’ to expand in Malawi and Tanzania

3 October 2024 - Vodafone Foundation’s commitment in September 2023 to provide up to $6 million over five years to expand the m-mama maternal health initiative to Malawi has now been matched by $1 million from USAID and $4.5 million from a coalition of philanthropies and local partners, it was announced today.

The funding is contingent upon a commitment from the Government of Malawi to cover the ongoing operational cost of running the service nationwide, estimated at less than $500,000 per year.

The project will enable clinical mapping of health facility capabilities, rural transport routes and the recruitment of community drivers who can provide emergency transport for pregnant women and their newborns when ambulances are not available.

Vodafone Foundation today also committed an additional $2 million over the next two years to establish a regional team based in Tanzania. The team will be tasked with maintaining the high quality of m-mama Tanzania while helping expand its reach across sub-Saharan Africa.

Joakim Reiter, Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer for Vodafone Group and Vodafone Foundation Trustee said: “The confirmation of funding for m-mama in Malawi marks another milestone in Vodafone Foundation’s long-term commitment to expand m-mama within sub-Saharan Africa. The establishment of a regional team in Tanzania will act as a hub to develop m-mama in other countries.”

70% of the world’s maternal deaths happen in Sub-Saharan Africa, and reducing global maternal mortality is the number one health challenge identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The lack of affordable transport for emergency referrals remains a significant challenge for women and babies.

Launched by Vodafone Foundation with support from USAID and others in 2013, m-mama is providing the first ever national emergency transport service in Tanzaniaand Lesotho, utilising a dedicated dispatch team and existing ambulances augmented with community drivers, that delivers pregnant mothers and babies to vital and lifesaving care. The service is created by Vodafone and partners but maintained by governments from the start.

The m-mama initiative has already reached nationwide scale in Tanzania and Lesotho and efforts are currently underway to deploy the service in Kenya. m-mama has already transported more than 100,000 women and newborns, saving an estimated 4,000 lives. Where m-mama has been rolled out, reductions in maternal deaths of over 25% have been indicated.

Read more about Vodafone Foundation’s 2023 commitment to expand to Malawi here: Lifesaving maternal and newborn emergency transport system ‘m-mama’ expands to Malawi (vodafone.com)

Notes for Editors

Vodafone Foundation

Vodafone Foundation (UK registered charity number 1193984) believes the power of connectivity can change lives and address some of the world’s most pressing problems. Founded in 1991 with a simple mission to invest in the communities in which Vodafone operates, today the charity connects people and ideas with technology and funding, to help those already doing good work to achieve results faster, more cost effectively and with a bigger social impact. Through a strategy of Connecting for Good, Vodafone Group PLC’s philanthropic arm works in partnership with other charitable organisations and NGOs to create solutions that bring about long-term sustainable change and improve lives.

For further information, please visit www.vodafonefoundation.org

U.S. Agency For International Development (USAID)

On behalf of the American people, the U.S. Agency for International Development promotes and demonstrates democratic values abroad, and advances a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support of America's foreign policy, USAID leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.