From Late Detection to Timely Care: Life Concern Launches Ultrasound Pilot in Rumphi
RUMPHI, MALAWI — Life Concern (LICO), with support from Egrea Group of Companies, has launched an ultrasound pilot to strengthen pregnancy monitoring and improve maternal healthcare in Rumphi District.
LICO donated two ultrasound scanners to Bolero Rural Hospital and Mhuju Rural Hospital, bringing essential pregnancy scanning services closer to communities where access has been limited.
Without accessible ultrasound services, some pregnancy complications may go undetected until later stages, reducing opportunities for timely clinical assessment, management and referral.
From October to December 2026, the 3-month pilot aims to provide ultrasound scanning to 1,000 pregnant women in Bolero and Mhuju. The target prioritises quality of service and learning; reaching more women would be an added achievement.
Ultrasound scanning can help healthcare workers monitor fetal growth, estimate gestational age, identify certain abnormalities and determine when further assessment or specialised care may be needed. It complements, but does not replace, routine antenatal care and clinical assessment.
To support implementation, LICO has trained 7 clinicians and nurses from the participating facilities to integrate ultrasound scanning into routine maternal healthcare services.
LICO has also installed internet services at the facilities to support timely data transmission and strengthen wider health-service operations.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with Rumphi District Hospital. The pilot will help LICO and its health-sector partners assess implementation and document lessons to inform possible future expansion across Rumphi and surrounding districts.
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