Dr. Jemimah Kariuki’s wheel for life gives accessibility to maternal services even after ciurfew.
They say the best startups are created in an attempt to try and solve a problem. There’s no doubt that corona has disrupted our daily way of life and for expectant mothers the curfew that was imposed during the pandemic has affected many. Infant mortality rates have gone up and for many mothers accessing basic maternal services has been almost impossible because of the curfew.
Dr. Jemimah saves the day.
During the pandemic most people have had to think of innovative ways to deal with all the current hardships that everyone is going through. While every one is thinking of themselves Jemimah thought of how she could use her profession and passion to make a change.
She said:
“COVID-19 has changed the way we have been taking all that is precious for granted….It has not only made us pause, reflect and re-arrange our priorities in life but it has made many of us think harder, and innovate ways of dealing with human sufferings as we come to terms with the induced changes occasioned by the pandemic,”
Hundreds or even thousands of pregnant women are doomed with the reality that if they leave their houses after curfew they may land on the wrong side of justice, after all, it is so no secret that police have been ruthlessly dealing with everyone who is seen after curfew and expectant mothers are not an exception.
Dr. Jemimah tweeted and urged expectant mothers to reach out to her if they needed to reach a hospital and she would do her best to intervene. This is what birthed “wheels for life”. Between April 28 and May 30 when the toll free number 1196 was launched, over 4000 calls were made. More than 470 women have received a doctor’s assistance.
Her biggest challenge currently is helping women who are in other counties however her initiative has attracted a lot of attention and even possible investors that may want to assist further.
