M-Pesa Foundation and Proximie Limited have launched a Digital Operating Room at Kilifi County Referral Hospital to improve emergency maternal and newborn healthcare under the Uzazi Salama Programme.
The facility will use tele-surgery technology to connect doctors in Kilifi with specialist surgeons in Kenya and abroad, allowing complex procedures to be carried out remotely. The partners say the innovation will reduce referrals, improve access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care, and help lower maternal and infant deaths.
M-Pesa Foundation Trustee Patricia Ithau said the organisation will provide the connectivity needed to support the technology.
“Our collaboration with Proximie through this technology will strengthen the Uzazi Salama Programme by bringing communities closer to specialised health services. As M-Pesa Foundation, our commitment is to provide reliable network through our strong 4G and 5G technology by Safaricom which will power this tele-surgery solution and ensure seamless procedures without interruptions,” said Patricia Ithau.
Proximie Head of Global Health Dr. Shannon Shibata-Gernanos said Kilifi was selected because of its high maternal and newborn mortality rates.
“The maternal health indicators in Kilifi are what led us to choose this county for the Digital Operating Room to curb instances of maternal and infant mortality. Uzazi Salama is an opportunity for us to plug in with innovative solutions at scale. We have garnered the support of key stakeholders such as the Surgical Society of Kenya to implement this programme. Our assurance is that patient data remains confidential, with data protection a key aspect of this project,” said Dr. Shannon Shibata-Gernanos.
Kilifi County continues to face high maternal and newborn mortality rates.
The maternal mortality rate is 532 per 100,000 live births according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).
Neonatal mortality is approximately 24 per 1,000 live births, infant mortality is 34 per 1,000, with under-five mortality standing at 40 per 1,000. Some health facilities in the county lack 24-hour maternity services, limiting access to emergency care.
The Uzazi Salama Programme, launched in 2024 and now covering all sub-counties in Kilifi, aims to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health by expanding access to life-saving emergency care.