Changing Lives
14
Putting Health First
There is a stark difference in the health
conditions of women across the globe. While
in high income countries woman's life
expectancy at birth is 83 years, in low and
mid income countries it drops to 72. The
situation is worse in Sub-Saharan Africa
where life expectancy at birth is just 60
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years . There are a number of reasons for
these low numbers such as maternal deaths,
poor nutrition amongst girls and high
prevalence of HIV amongst females. Maternal
death is the primary reason for low life
expectancy rate in developing countries.
In fact, 99% of all maternal deaths occur
in developing countries. More than half of
these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa
and almost one third occur in South Asia8.
Lack of funds is one of the prominent reasons
for high numbers of female deaths in
developing world.
women's health in more than one ways.
Governments and NGO use mobile money
platform to distribute funds directly to the
unbanked and the economically backward
women which helps in reducing maternal
deaths and eradicating malnutrition. Since
the money is transferred directly the aid
money reaches the intended recipients
without any leakages.
Insurance companies are enrolling women
for health insurance policies via mobile
phones enabling them to pay premium and
receive claims via mobile money. Mobile
money is also being used by individuals and
NGOs to crowd source funds for ailments like
cancer which require huge medical
expenditure. In Uganda Justine Nyachwo
collected funds via mobile money for cancer
treatment of her friend Carol Atuhirwe, a
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Uganda Christian University student .
By providing quick and easy access to
funds, mobile money can help in improving
User Story: India
In India, the State Government of Madhya
Pradesh, with partner Vodafone M-Pesa,
disburses financial aid to mothers, who receive
the payment directly on their mobile phone.
The beneficiary is informed with an SMS
mentioning the amount of the health subsidy,
the withdrawal code & procedure, facilitating
cash-out at any Vodafone M-Pesa agent. Direct
disbursement to the mothers has resulted in
reduction of the money being collected by
the fathers and therefore never reaching the
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intended beneficiary in some cases.