Portable ultrasound machines in Kenya are improving health care in Kenya, which has long proven to be a challenge for remote areas of the country. Low-income communities are hit especially hard as expecting women must commute to the mainland or more urban areas to receive treatment. This is not always possible for those who cannot afford these travel costs. Thus, many women only return to specialists to deliver their babies, risking health complications since they do not receive ultrasounds or check-ups throughout their pregnancy.

In emergencies, it is also not realistic for women in rural communities to travel several hours to care centers that have the equipment necessary to have them. As a result of the inaccessible costs of Kenya’s maternal health care system, only about 50% of deliveries in Kenya occur in actual medical facilities, which can prove dangerous for mothers and babies.

Portable Ultrasound Technology

Created by the medical equipment company Philips, the Lumify Probe is a portable ultrasound machine that has revolutionized health care in Kenya for pregnant women. Implementation programs begin with training for midwives on how to use the Lumify Probe. Health care centers in remote villages of Kenya then received one of the devices, increasing the reach and accessibility of ultrasound and obstetrics in Kenya.

The device itself has many important applications. Most importantly, it can give midwives and mothers information on the viability of the pregnancy, show the number of fetuses and show the position of the fetus. With this information, midwives can better advise their patients and spot potential complications like breech positions or multiple pregnancies earlier.

Incorporating Artificial Intelligence

With the rise in artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years, efforts have been made to use the new technology for ultrasounds. AI could help simplify the process of obtaining obstetric measures and provide information to midwives and mothers earlier in the pregnancy. A pilot program in Kenya has already shown promise and there is hope of expanding the initiative to more countries in Africa.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded these efforts for several years now, even increasing a grant for Philips to $60 million for its research into AI-powered ultrasound technology.

The Impact of Portable Ultrasound Machines

Portable ultrasound machines will increase access to obstetric care in Kenya and eventually other countries as programs to implement the devices expand. Midwives can travel to their patients’ homes and conduct community visits to reach even more people. Moreover, the new machines are more cost-effective for low-income families who can’t afford to travel to centers in larger cities or the mainland.

Whereas ultrasounds at specialist facilities may cost around Ksh 1,000 or 1,500, portable ones are only around Ksh 500 (this is $10 to $15 versus just $5). While the World Health Organization (WHO) advises that mothers receive “at least one obstetric screen, done before 24 weeks of gestation,” many mothers could not do so before these pilot programs for portable ultrasound machines.

However, since their introduction, more than 2,500 mothers have been screened in Kenya and the number is only increasing. Ultimately, portable ultrasound machines like the Philips Lumify Probe will save countless lives as mothers become more informed about the conditions of their pregnancies and maternal health care in Kenya improves.

– Hannah Hipólito

Hannah is based in Tampa, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr