In low-income countries such as Sierra Leone, where more women die as a result of complications related to pregnancy than anywhere else in the world.

The maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone is the highest in the world: 1,165 deaths per 100 000 live births six times the global average (7 per 100 000 in the UK) and COVID-19 reports indicate that fewer women are accessing lifesaving antenatal care.

The CRADLE blood pressure and heart rate device helps healthcare workers identify when women are at risk with a simple traffic light warning system. A pilot project in Sierra Leone showed that the CRADLE device and training was associated with a 40% reduction in women have eclamptic fits and a 60% reduction in women dying. The CRADLE VSA is very accurate, easy-to-use, portable and has low power requirements meaning that healthcare providers reaching out to pregnant women during the pandemic can easily identify those at risk.

This project is being led by UK registered charity and international NGO Welbodi Partnership, in collaboration with Kings College London. It is a partnership with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone and is supported by partners UK Aid and UNICEF.