Revolutionising maternity care in Africa

These hybrid, personalised care packages help parents before, during, and after the birth

Spotted: One of the targets under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to “reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.” Hoping to support that goal, Kenyan healthcare company Malaica focuses exclusively on maternal help, providing vital pre- and post-natal care. 

Founded by healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs with experience in the field of women’s health, Malaica’s online support programme connects pregnant individuals with midwives, gynaecologists, paediatricians, and psychologists for live chats, webinars, and daily digital updates on the baby’s growth.  

Malaica’s services are payable via M-Pesa (a mobile banking service in Africa), not insurance, and seek to improve the overall experience of pregnancy, birth, and early years for both mothers and babies. The antenatal and postnatal care programmes include Lamaze classes, monthly physical checkups, and consultations with relevant healthcare specialists. Parents-to-be can also access three obstetric ultrasounds, a tetanus vaccine, and pre- and post-natal in-person and online therapy sessions.  

For delivery, parents can also choose one of Malaica’s birth packages tailored specifically to each family’s needs. A two- or three-day hospital stay is included in the delivery package, as are immunisations for the baby and support in starting to breastfeed.  

Malaica is based in Nairobi and provides services across the country. With its recently closed $1 million pre-seed funding round, the company hopes to speed up its growth.

Written By: Keely Khoury