AfricanMothers Signs MoU with Health X Inc. to Advance Digital Maternal Health in Kenya

Expanding antenatal care touchpoints through mobile technology, in support of the quality and continuity of maternal health services in Kenya.

AfricanMothers Inc. (Representative Director: Kimiyoshi Yokogawa; Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Health X Inc. (Nairobi, Kenya; Chief Executive Officer: Roy Bore) on 15 September 2026, establishing Health X as its digital health partner in the Republic of Kenya for a hybrid maternal healthcare initiative.

Under the partnership, the two companies will jointly design and run a Proof of Concept (PoC) in Kenya, with the aim of building a model of maternal care that combines in-person and remote services.

About the partnership

AfricanMothers provides "Taarifa za Mama," a maternal health application developed with reference to the concept and practices of Japan's Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Two linked applications — one for expectant mothers and one for midwives — share the same records, allowing check-up results, upcoming appointments and communication with health workers to be handled in a single place.

Health X Inc. is a digital healthcare provider delivering primary care in Kenya. It operates "Mamatoto," a structured antenatal care (ANC) programme that combines physical clinic visits with virtual consultations by phone and online.

Through this partnership, "Taarifa za Mama" will be connected to Health X's clinical operations, with two principal objectives:

1. Increasing antenatal care touchpoints

Taking into account the World Health Organization's recommendations on the number of antenatal contacts during pregnancy, the partners will combine physical and virtual care to increase opportunities for monitoring — supporting the early identification of complications and improved maternal and infant health outcomes.

2. Cost-effective hybrid care

By making use of in-app communication and virtual consultations, the partners aim to widen access to care without increasing the financial or travel burden on expectant mothers.

AfricanMothers will adapt the application for the Kenyan context and produce audio- and video-based educational content localised into Swahili, designed to serve mothers of varying literacy levels. Health X will provide the midwives and clinical staff who respond to queries raised through the app, and will lead on-the-ground onboarding and adoption.

The two companies will next examine technical integration between their respective systems, establish data management arrangements in line with applicable Kenyan laws and regulations, and draft a PoC design document setting out KPIs, timelines and the scale of the pilot. They will also discuss cost-sharing and a sustainable business model with a view to operations beyond the pilot phase.

Background

Maternal mortality in Kenya remains high, at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births (UNFPA). According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), 66.0% of women attended four or more antenatal visits, while only 4% reached the eight or more contacts recommended by the WHO.

Missed or discontinued antenatal care delays the detection of complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and anaemia. Behind this lie structural factors: the time and transport costs of reaching a facility, and shortages of facilities and midwives.

The partners believe that sharing records via smartphone and offering remote consultation can increase antenatal touchpoints without substantially increasing the load on health facilities. The initiative will be advanced with a view to making use of overseas expansion support programmes offered by Japanese government agencies and other bodies.

About Health X Inc.

Health X Inc. is a digital healthcare provider based in Nairobi, Kenya. It offers hybrid consultation and care programmes combining online and physical services, and works to ensure continuous monitoring throughout pregnancy through its "Mamatoto" antenatal care programme.

About AfricanMothers Inc.

AfricanMothers Inc. develops and provides digital maternal and child health services under the mission of supporting mothers in Africa through technology. Its maternal health application "Taarifa za Mama," developed with reference to Japan's Maternal and Child Health Handbook, links an app for expectant mothers with one for midwives so that both share the same records, allowing mothers to check test results and their next appointment after a visit. AfricanMothers is a subsidiary of Castalia Inc. and works to address social challenges through mobile technology.