Wangechi Mburu

Kenyan tech entrepreneur revolutionizing women's healthcare through mobile innovation

Wangechi Mburu is a visionary Kenyan entrepreneur whose work has fundamentally transformed women's healthcare access across Africa through innovative technological solutions. As founder and CEO of Afya Care, she pioneered mobile health platforms that connect millions of women to life-saving healthcare services. Her groundbreaking work began with the development of Mama-Ops, a mobile app launched in 2012 that provided pregnancy and postnatal care information to over 1 million users in East Africa by 2018. This system uses SMS and USSD technology to reach even the most remote areas without internet access, addressing critical gaps in maternal healthcare.

Mburu's approach combines cutting-edge technology with deep cultural understanding. She developed the Healthcare4Her platform in collaboration with UNICEF, creating an AI-driven diagnostic tool tailored to local health challenges. This system has been adopted by governments in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania to improve early detection of cervical cancer and other conditions. Her work has been featured in World Health Organization case studies and earned her the 2019 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

Beyond technology development, Mburu has trained over 3,000 community health workers through her Digital Health Academy program. Her advocacy led to Kenya's 2021 National eHealth Strategy, which integrates mobile health solutions into national healthcare frameworks. She currently serves as a UN Women's Global Champion for Technology, advising on digital strategies to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).