99% of the world’s maternal mortality burden is in the developing world (1). Many of these deaths are preventable with regular antenatal care to monitor the health of the mother. Antenatal care primarily consists of important screenings that include blood pressure, testing urine, and blood tests. While the knowledge of the importance of antenatal care is widespread, access to quality antenatal care is lacking due to many barriers: physical distance, economic costs, and cultural and social factors (WHO Antenatal Care in Developing Countries).

To solve this problem, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, based in Pakistan, and Tech4Life Enterprises have developed a noninvasive wristband that monitors vital signs. A winner of the “rising star in Global Health” grant from Grand Challenges Canada, the wristband aids in blood pressure, hemoglobin, and blood glucose measurement. Community Health Workers will distribute the wristbands to mothers. When mothers wear the wristbands on schedule, the device will send information to health providers via SMS.

Source:COMSATS Institute