Resource Type: Case Studies
Authors: Health Finance and Governance (HFG)
Published: 10/31/2015

Resource Description:

This case study is one of 14 case studies profiled in the Mobile Money for Health Case Study Compendium.

In Bangladesh, there is an urgent need to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. While 55 out of every 100 people have access to health services, 64 out of 100 are mobile phone subscribers. Recognizing high mobile phone penetration, the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Health Action (MAMA) Bangladesh has supported the development of a mobile phone based health information system for expecting and new mothers. The system, known locally as Aponjon (which translates to “dear one” in Bangla), delivers biweekly SMS or voice messages to expecting and new mothers and their relatives to ensure they receive the vital health information they need from the beginning of their pregnancies through the time their children turn one. After completing a year-long pilot, Aponjon began its national scale-up in December 2012 led by the Bangladesh social enterprise, Dnet, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).