For Lorcadia Mateu, a 38-year-old mother from Epworth, pregnancy once meant uncertainty and fear. She suffered frequent headaches, hazy vision, and abdominal pain during her first pregnancy — symptoms later diagnosed as pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening complication. But during her second pregnancy, she had help close to home: Nyamukuta, a WhatsApp-based maternal health app providing life-saving guidance and monitoring tools.
Developed through the TechWomen Impact Grant and supported by ZimbosAbantu, the Nyamukuta program combines AI-powered chatbot assistance with portable blood pressure machines to empower pregnant women in underserved communities.
How Nyamukuta Works
- WhatsApp Chatbot: Built for accessibility, even on low-cost smartphones and slow networks, the app enables women to ask questions about pre- and post-natal care and receive instant, accurate responses.
- Blood Pressure Monitoring: Donated portable BP machines let women track their health at home, reducing unnecessary clinic visits and enabling faster emergency responses.
- Community Sharing: In areas where WhatsApp access is limited, women like Tanatswa Mautsi, 27, use their phones to share critical health information with neighbors.
Mateu says the app has transformed her experience:
“With the app and the machine, I only visit the clinic when it’s necessary. I can test myself and get instant advice, even in the middle of the night.”
Tackling Maternal Health Risks
Zimbabwe faces high maternal mortality rates, particularly linked to pre-eclampsia and other pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) conditions. A 2015 Harare study found PIH affected 19.4% of pregnant women, increasing stillbirth risks 4.3 times.
Nyamukuta — meaning “midwife” in Shona — aims to address this by democratizing access to health information. Developed by Tofara Chokera and fellow women in tech, the initiative was inspired by the lack of accessible maternal care tools in local communities.
“We realised almost everyone has a smartphone, even in low-resource settings,” Chokera explained. “So we brought healthcare information to people’s fingertips — and paired it with devices to save lives.”
Bridging the Digital Divide
While internet access remains inconsistent in many regions, WhatsApp’s widespread usage makes the solution cost-effective and inclusive. The chatbot functions with minimal data requirements, ensuring even rural users benefit.
The program’s integration with Zimbabwe’s broader digital health strategy reflects government priorities to:
- Improve continuity of care for underserved populations
- Reduce administrative burdens for health workers
- Support data-driven decision-making and better resource allocation
Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora praised such solutions, calling them essential to building “a healthier, stronger Zimbabwe” aligned with the nation’s universal health coverage goals.
Scaling Impact Beyond Maternal Care
Starting with 50 pregnant women in Epworth, the initiative has grown to include:
- Immunisation reminders
- Child nutrition tracking
- Digital health record management
- Community-based telemedicine services via partnerships with Econet Wireless
Community health worker Sarah Huruswa calls the chatbot “a game-changer”, noting that questions once requiring clinic visits are now answered promptly and reliably, preventing complications and saving lives.
The Future of Digital Maternal Healthcare in Zimbabwe
The Nyamukuta team plans to scale the initiative nationwide, targeting thousands of pregnant women and underserved families. By integrating AI chatbots, mobile tools, and community networks, Zimbabwe is redefining how technology supports maternal and newborn health.
“This is just the beginning,” Chokera says. “Together, we are saving lives — one mother at a time.”
