Every two minutes, a woman will have a pregnancy-related death that can be prevented. That staggering figure is a reminder of just how crucial it is that more effective maternal care is available across the globe. To meet that need, GE HealthCare Foundation is focusing its resources on making more equal access to precision healthcare a possibility, beginning with enhancing global maternal outcomes.
Establishing the GE HealthCare Foundation
GE HealthCare founded the GE HealthCare Foundation as a new independent charity in March 2024. Building on GE HealthCare's legacy in medical technologies, the Foundation aims to make healthcare more accessible, more human, more personal, and more flexible.
Through collaboration with nonprofit organizations, the Foundation aims to dismantle barriers that prohibit underserved communities from accessing quality pregnancy care.
Strategic Alliances Enhancing Maternity Care
The GE HealthCare Foundation partners with a variety of organizations to deliver necessary resources and training to expectant women and healthcare professionals:
1. Urban Institute
Nonprofit research organization Urban Institute is currently establishing a publicly accessible database on U.S. Medicaid practices and policies.
The project focuses on utilizing algorithmic methods and artificial intelligence to eliminate maternal healthcare disparities, ensuring equal treatment for pregnant women.
2. Lwala Community Alliance
Focused on Kenya, the Lwala Community Alliance tackles infant and maternal mortality through:
- Training nurses and clinical officers in obstetric ultrasound.
- Equipping healthcare practitioners with the necessary skills to spot early signs of complications to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
3. Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)
BMMA is a network of Black women-led organizations advocating for Black women's maternal health, rights, and justice in America.
- The Foundation supports BMMA activities, including its Black Maternal Health Week campaign and training programs.
- These initiatives aim to generate awareness and drive meaningful change in Black maternal healthcare.
4. Project ECHO
Focusing on Indonesia, Project ECHO enhances the quality of the public healthcare workforce by:
- Opening primary healthcare clinics.
- Providing comprehensive maternal and infant healthcare services, including:
- Nutrition counseling
- Neonatal care
- Family planning resources
Empowering Healthcare Providers
One key aspect of GE HealthCare Foundation's mandate is empowering healthcare professionals.
- By investing in training programs and providing advanced healthcare technologies, the Foundation ensures that:
- Midwives, nurses, and doctors have essential skills to deliver quality care to expectant women.
- Patient outcomes improve, while also strengthening healthcare infrastructure in impoverished regions.
A Vision for the Future
The GE HealthCare Foundation is committed to expanding its impact on maternal healthcare by:
- Scaling Successful Programs – Expanding on effective projects to reach more communities in need.
- Pioneering Healthcare Solutions – Leveraging GE HealthCare's expertise to design new technologies that address emerging challenges in women's healthcare.
- Fostering Policy Transformation – Collaborating with stakeholders to develop policies that promote equitable access to maternal healthcare.
Through these efforts, the Foundation hopes that every mother will have access to the resources and support needed for a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Learn More About GE HealthCare Foundation Maternal Health Programs
Visit the GE HealthCare Foundation website to explore its projects and partnerships dedicated to improving maternal healthcare
