Description of Innovation

Established in 2009, Afya Research Africa (ARA) is a Kenyan non-profit with a track record of working in three complementary areas of healthcare: providing quality healthcare services to underserved communities; developing and deploying  locally relevant health technology; and generating evidence for best healthcare practices. 

As part of her mission, ARA runs a network of 25 medical centres (Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks) set mostly in under-served rural settings, co-owned and operated with the target communities, and paired with supplementary enterprises that help to cross-subsidize the cost of care. Over the past 3 years, Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks have provided care to over 250,000 individuals in underserved rural areas. This has been associated with up to 20% increase in access to skilled delivery and post-natal care services in the catchment areas they serve.  To help manage and operate the kiosks, ARA deploys an in-house Health Management Information System: STONE-HMIS®, a modular point-of-care system that integrates all components of the health system, including community,clinical, and administrative modules. STONE-HMIS® interacts directly with the government’s health data repository; incorporates local administrative, clinical and pharmaceutical databases; and utilizes biometric and cloud technology for unique identification and tracking of patients. The use of STONE-HMIS® has been associated with improved maternal and newborn health indicators on account of better patient follow up and health system accountability. Through their evidence synthesis work, ARA supports health worker training on evidence translation, with over 100 health workers already benefiting from their training.

ARA envisions a healthcare system where community and healthcare providers work together to provide improved access to quality care for all.

Back to top