Digital Health and SAIFRN pilot mobile health programme with mothers

Digital Health (Pvt.) Ltd joined hands with the South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network (SAIFRN), to commence a pilot programme to deliver informational health alerts to promote digital health in the island. 

This mobile-based healthcare service will commence its pilot delivering essential medical information to pregnant mothers and mothers of children aged less than two years. 

Digital Health and SAIFRN will implement this programme in partnership with registered midwives, who will identify and register mothers to receive the information via SMS and recorded messages in their native language. The programme aims to improve communication with and information to mothers, to help them develop and maintain the health of infants. Mothers could also find solutions to health issues in real-time via this pilot programme. 

The objective of Digital Health Private Limited is to harness digital technologies to ensure care and convenience in delivery of health care in Sri Lanka and improve the quality of life for all citizens. 

Digital Health’s pilot together with SAIFRN will commence in Haputale and the information will be delivered customised as per the stage of the pregnancy or age of the child. The communications have been developed in consultation with the National Programme of Maternal and Child Health. The pilot will also support the Public Health Programme of the Health Ministry and assists midwives to communicate and reach out to patients in a timely and effective manner. The pilot programme will run for a period of six months. 

Digital Health CEO Apsara Wijayawardene stated, “The launch of this pilot programme is a step into the era of digital health in Sri Lanka, where communication technologies will act as enablers to facilitate healthcare across geographical and social boundaries. We look forward to our continued efforts to bring innovative and life-changing digital health products to all Sri Lankans.”

Dr. Upul Senarath of SAIFRN added that this pilot programme and future initiatives would help improve the nutritional state of mothers and children, islandwide. He also appreciated the efforts of UNICEF and AusAID for their support for research activities to launch the programme.