Innovating for Equity
How Evidence-Based tools are Transforming Maternal and Child Health
Childhood malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. But it is not a problem that can be solved in isolation. True change demands a systems-based approach, one that begins with maternal health and extends through early childhood, addressing root causes with precision, compassion, and innovation.
At TIP, we are building resilient, locally driven health systems powered by real-time, evidence-based tools. This commitment is at the core of a groundbreaking new initiative: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on childhood stunting in Rwanda.
Research that Strengthens Systems
Led by Dr. Edgar Kalimba through the Healthy Start initiative and proctored by the World Health Organization, this trial is more than a research study. It is a model for how innovation and rigorous evaluation can go hand in hand to improve lives, starting from the very beginning.
As a core partner, TIP is contributing clinical expertise and digital innovation to co-design a research framework that doesn’t just measure outcomes but strengthens the health system along the way. At the center of this work is e-HealthyStart, a digital health platform built on TIP’s core E-Heza tool and co-designed with frontline health workers.
e-HealthyStart enables continuous, high-quality care from pregnancy through early childhood, transforming real-time data into actionable insights that help providers respond faster, track outcomes more accurately, and improve care at every stage.
Tackling Anemia to Prevent Stunting
A major focus of the RCT is the early detection and treatment of maternal anemia, a leading cause of low birth weight and childhood stunting. The results so far are promising:
- 94% of pregnant women using E-Heza have a recorded hemoglobin result
- 100% of identified anemia cases receive treatment
- Maternal anemia rates have dropped to 3.1%, compared to the national average of 13%
These figures are not just statistics, they represent stronger pregnancies, healthier newborn, and a powerful, preventative approach to malnutrition.
Real-time Feedback, Real World Impact
Our completion metrics tool plays a critical role in identifying gaps in care delivery. It helps facilities course-correct in real time and directly informs the structure of the RCT to ensure it reflects frontline realities.
Following the successful pilot in September 2025, the full randomized controlled trial is set to launch in 2026. This study builds on a research framework TIP co-developed with Mathematica, with the aim of evaluating how e-HealthyStart improves maternal nutrition, increases antenatal care engagement, and reduces stunting.
A Model for Scalable, Equitable Care
The impact of this trial extends far beyond Rwanda. It offers a scalable, replicable model for how digital health can be integrated into maternal and child health systems globally. This is what innovation for equity looks like:
- A mother receives the right test at the right time
- A nurse is equipped with tools to act
- A system adapts and improves with every patient, every data point.
This work would not be possible without the invaluable support of our partners: King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health Rwanda, Imbuto Foundation, NCDA, the Elsa Miller Foundation, and Tampere University. Their collaboration continues to strengthen our shared mission to build healthier futures for mothers and children across Rwanda and beyond.
As we move forward, we remain grounded in our belief that every child deserves a healthy start and every mother, the support to give it.
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