DIGITAL MATERNAL HEALTH
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24. --- (4 May 2026) -- Zambia is accelerating its shift toward digital maternal healthcare systems, as government officials, UN agencies, and development partners warn that technological innovation must be matched with stronger safeguards for data protection, equity, and trust to improve outcomes for women and girls.
The discussions, held under the theme “Data, Dignity and Delivering Impact: Scaling Women’s Health Innovation through Equitable and Ethical Technology in Zambia”, focused on how digital transformation can strengthen maternal health services, reduce preventable deaths, and improve health system efficiency without compromising patient rights.
She noted that Zambia’s maternal mortality remains between 135 and 187 per 100,000 live births, above the global target of fewer than 70, underscoring the urgency of linking digital health reforms to measurable improvements in maternal outcomes.
She highlighted Zambia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2024–2026) as a key policy framework supporting digital health transformation, including strengthened data systems and AI-enabled public health tools.
However, she cautioned that governance frameworks on data protection and ethics are not keeping pace with technological advancement, particularly in relation to sensitive maternal and reproductive health information.
“This is not only a health issue. It is a data and dignity issue,” she said.
Zigomo also highlighted UNFPA-supported deployment of point-of-care ultrasound technology, which is improving early detection of pregnancy complications and strengthening maternal care in underserved communities.
She stressed that innovation must be supported by trained health workers, reliable systems, and strong accountability mechanisms.
UNFPA Global Head of Women X Collective, Deeplali Sood, warned that women’s health remains significantly underfunded, with only about one percent of global research funding directed toward women-specific conditions.
She noted long-standing exclusion of women from clinical trials, contributing to gaps in diagnosis and treatment safety.
She further raised concerns that artificial intelligence systems in healthcare risk reinforcing bias due to male-dominated datasets and limited representation from low- and middle-income countries.
Sood called for stronger integration of digital innovations into national health systems, supported by sustained financing and inclusive design.
“Technology must serve people. Data must protect people,” she said,
She noted that approximately 700 women die daily worldwide from preventable pregnancy-related complications.
Samuel Kalonde Mutuna from the Presidential Delivery Unit said Zambia has recorded progress in maternal health and pharmaceutical supply systems, supported by digital tracking systems for medicines and procurement.
However, he noted persistent challenges, including shortages of critical supplies such as blood products, which continue to affect emergency maternal care.
He added that the Ministry of Health operates more than 50 digital systems, many of which overlap, creating inefficiencies and integration challenges.
Mutuna stressed the need for stronger coordination across sectors, including infrastructure and water systems, to support effective health service delivery.
He also emphasized patient feedback mechanisms and community participation as key tools for improving accountability and service delivery outcomes.
Dr. Brian Mwila said the ultrasound training programme introduced in 2022 has strengthened diagnostic capacity for maternal healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.
The programme enables trained frontline health workers to conduct basic scans, improving early detection of complications such as placental abnormalities and low amniotic fluid, and strengthening referral systems.
He said the programme follows international standards and includes quality assurance mechanisms, though challenges remain in staff turnover and refresher training.
The initiative has contributed to improved maternal health outcomes and increased access to institutional care.
Chief Safe Motherhood Officer Caren Chizuni said Zambia is implementing a digital maternal health system that registers women from their first antenatal visit and tracks their care throughout pregnancy.
She said the system is designed to improve continuity of care and reduce delays in reporting maternal complications.
The Ministry also plans to use SMS-based communication to support antenatal reminders and health education messaging.
She highlighted the integration of early ultrasound services to improve gestational dating and identify high-risk pregnancies before 24 weeks.
She said digital training platforms will strengthen health worker capacity and address gaps in maternal care delivery.
She said patient identities will be secured using unique identifiers, with access restricted to authorized health workers only.
She added that community engagement is being strengthened to build trust in the digital health system.
He said a key challenge is ensuring that innovation reaches women in rural and underserved areas, noting that practical solutions are emerging through collaboration between government, development partners, and technical experts.
Broekman highlighted point-of-care ultrasound as a major advancement, noting that midwives can be trained to conduct basic screening during antenatal care.
He said this is particularly important in settings with limited health workers, as it enables early detection of complications and timely referrals.
He added that combining digital tools with frontline health worker capacity is shifting health systems from reactive care to more proactive and preventive approaches, strengthening continuity from community to higher-level facilities.
He also pointed to portable diagnostic devices and digital platforms as tools that can improve early risk detection and support referrals in rural areas, while helping reassure expectant mothers during pregnancy.
However, he warned that technology alone is not sufficient, stressing that ethical data use and strong governance are essential to maintain trust in health systems.
Broekman further called for greater inclusion of women’s voices in designing digital health systems, alongside continuous training for healthcare workers to ensure responsible implementation.
He noted that coordinated financing, including support from development partners, is helping scale maternal health innovations in Zambia.
He concluded that sustainable digital health transformation depends on strong government leadership, ethical safeguards, and collaboration, emphasizing that expectant mothers ultimately rely on these systems for life-saving care.
Officials agreed that digital maternal health systems present a major opportunity to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Zambia.
However, they emphasized that success will depend on stronger governance, integrated digital systems, workforce capacity, and robust protection of patient data to ensure that innovation translates into real and equitable health impact.
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