Dahabo Adi Galgallo is a Kenyan innovator based who is currently undertaking a residency in field epidemiology from the Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP), sponsored by the US’ Centers for Disease Control and Kenya’s Ministry of Health. The holder of a diploma in medical laboratory sciences from the Kenya Medical Training College, Nakuru, has worked in the public health sector since 2009, serving in different capacities including sub-county disease surveillance coordinator and sub-county laboratory coordinator. She also worked for the Kenya Red cross for a year. She is a recipient of several awards and has conducted public health projects in antenatal care, cholera, typhoid and tuberculosis prevention as part of her FELTP residency. She is self-motivated and a leader with a passion for maternal health care.

Project- Integrated maternal mobile health care service for pastoralist mothers tracked via solar-powered GPS bracelets

Galgallo is developing a waterproof, coin-sized, solar-powered GPS-tracking device that will be fitted into cultural jewellery of expectant mothers in pastoralist and nomadic communities so health workers can easily locate and provide them with pre and antenatal care where they are. Integrated maternal mobile health delivered to pastoralist women will decrease maternal mortality, infant mortality and improve vaccination coverage, which will improve infant survival in this population because women can easily be traced and care given. This project will identify expectant women in Marsabit and immunise them against tetanus, which is the first step in saving baby’s life, conduct laboratory profiling to detect any diseases for early intervention and provide continuous antenatal care from the duration of the pregnancy to birth and then immunisation of new born up to 12-month in tandem with continous health education. Marsabit is one of the largest counties in Kenya with residents who are mainly pastoralist and nomadic, even crossing to Ethiopia and Somalia.