Monday, 29th of January 2018 PRESS RELEASE Mamalette is proud to announce that we have been selected as a semifinalist for the global GIST Tech-I competition (organized by the U.S. Department of State). The U. S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative empowers young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address economic and development challenges.

Mamalette recruits and trains experienced mothers in various neighbourhoods to act as health champions, sharing important lifesaving maternal and infant health information, through peer support, group meetings and awareness campaigns.

Nigeria is the second most dangerous country in the world to be pregnant and have a baby. Also, one in five Nigerian children never reach the age of 5. Mamalette focuses on improving health outcomes for pregnant women and mothers who are vulnerable or socially excluded.

This project offers Nigerian mothers the opportunity to change the world. To become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Mamalette health champions wake up every day with the satisfaction of knowing that they are engaged in solving a problem that will otherwise remain unsolved. And feel good knowing they are making a difference in the life of others.

Mrs Anike Lawal, Founder at Mamalette, explains:

“This idea came about while running an online community for mothers and coming across hundreds of stories of women dying and infants dying I realised that maternal and infant mortality wasn’t something that was only affecting women in rural parts of the country, women and infants living in urban cities were dying from preventable causes.”

“In one week alone, I was told about 3 women who died while giving birth, women like me, I felt so powerless because I knew I wanted to do something about it but did not know how. So last year, I went searching for answers and after months of research, focus groups and one on one interviews, I realised that I wasn’t powerless and that there were many women like me, who were tired of the status quo and the fear that comes with being pregnant in Nigeria and wanted to do something about it.”

“So after much consultation with various health experts well versed in maternal and infant health. I together with my team created the Mamalette Champions program where we recruit and train experienced mothers in various neighbourhoods to act as health champions, sharing important lifesaving maternal and infant health information, through peer support, group meetings and awareness campaigns.”

Till date, Mamalette has trained 70 mothers in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo and has launched 40 motherhood cell groups in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan.

VOTING is currently ongoing every day from January 26, 2018, and until February 22, 2018, to help determine the 10 finalists that will make it to the 2018 GIST Tech-I finals at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.

To vote for Mamalette, please take the following steps;

• Log in/register at the GIST website here: www.gistnetwork.org/user/register
• Go to Mamalette’s entry
• Click the VOTE Button under Mamalette’s entry

An individual can submit one vote PER DAY. However, you can vote again once every 24 hours, for as many days as you can, to improve our chances of winning.

About Mamalette:

Mamalette is an early stage social enterprise that focuses on improving health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers who are vulnerable or socially marginalised while simultaneously providing employment opportunities for women.

PR Contact

Anike Lawal
anike@mamalette.org
+234 816 621 8444