Imbuto Initiative

MATERNAL HEALTH CHALLENGE; Rwanda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Misoprostol.

Learn more about the Maternal Health Challenge and how the distribution of Misoprostol, a $3 drug that can prevent maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage, could save thousands of lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Imbuto Initiative prevents postpartum hemorrhage in underserved communities by enabling Community Health Workers to provide misoprostol for unavoidable home births while strengthening rapid emergency response, emergency referrals, and maternal savings.

IMBUTO Initiative will pilot its maternal health distribution model in Huye and Nyagatare districts in Rwanda, enrolling 250 high-risk pregnant women through trained Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs will provide maternal follow-up, rapid labor response, emergency referral coordination, maternal savings support, and restricted post-delivery administration of misoprostol for unavoidable home births to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. The model also uses a USSD-based alert system that allows mothers or family members to rapidly notify CHWs during labor or emergencies. What sets IMBUTO apart is its integrated community-based approach that combines postpartum hemorrhage prevention, emergency transport support, digital alerts, and maternal financial preparedness into one coordinated system for high-risk mothers.

IMBUTO Initiative was founded by Dr. Egide Ahishakiye, who serves as Executive Director and Pilot Lead. During early implementation, he will work closely with an implementation team including Dr. Aimable Munyeshyaka, Health Technology & Data Lead, who manages the USSD system development, data integrity, and district logistics support; and Dr. Marie Grace Niyonizeye, Community Engagement & Maternal Savings Circle (MSC) Coordinator, who leads community engagement, maternal health education, and management of Maternal Savings Circles and Emergency Birth Funds.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly enroll and support 250 high-risk pregnant women across Huye and Nyagatare through Community Health Workers (CHWs), Maternal Savings Circles, emergency transport support, and rapid labor response systems during the six-month pilot.

• Ensure that at least 90% of eligible unavoidable home births among enrolled mothers receive timely CHW-administered misoprostol for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, while increasing timely referrals and facility-based deliveries through CHW-led maternal support systems.

• Secure at least $12,000 USD in additional funding or institutional partnership commitments within five months of launch to support continuation and scale of the IMBUTO maternal health model beyond the pilot phase.
  

FOUNDING TEAM

Ahishakiye Egide - Founder