Pregnant women unite at the “Beyond Zero Marathon” to shine the spotlight on preventable maternal and infant deaths in Kenya.

The Philips Lumify Pregnancy Walk aims to take the conversation and motivation of the Beyond Zero initiative a step further by getting the lives it sets out to save involved – not only in the walk, but also in the healthy development of their babies. 

The Philips Lumify ultrasound will be used to carry out screenings at the fun walk, by bringing technology that will otherwise only be available at formal hospitals and clinics to the participants. This means that the mothers-to-be will be able to see high-quality images of their unborn babies on a smartphone, thanks to the mobile app and portable ultrasound. For most of the expectant mothers, this screening will be their first ever opportunity to have an ultrasound scan. 

Although many deaths can be prevented with basic imaging technology, women across Africa often die due to avoidable complications during child birth, as they have no access to healthcare technologies to detect critical conditions. This highlights the importance of initiatives such as Beyond Zero and the Philips Lumify Pregnancy 2km Walk aimed at educating women about healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and give them access to technology that can potentially save their own lives and the lives of their babies.

“It is such an honour to share the route and this journey with so many strong women,” says Sarah Hassan, media personality-TV presenter, actress, producer. “I have been fortunate enough to have had access to pre-natal screenings throughout my pregnancy, but I am well aware that many women across our country do not have the same access. It is fantastic to see leaders in healthcare – like Philips - come together to change the future for more mothers-to-be and their babies by providing them access to maternal screenings, and with it, insight into the health of Kenya’s next generation.”

To demonstrate their deep-seated commitment to the well-being of the mothers and children of Kenya, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, Jasper Westerink and their teams will participate in the event this Sunday (10th March 2019). Support staff from Philips and the Kenya Red Cross will also be manning comfort stations and recovery tents along the route to ensure the safety of all participants and supporters.