Kyushu University pilots telemedicine program to support pregnant women in conflict-affected Sudan: Supporting the restoration of maternal and child health services through Portable Health Clinic (PHC)

Kyushu University’s Global Healthcare Team and the NGO Rocinantes have launched a pilot initiative providing antenatal care to pregnant women in Sudan. Using the Portable Health Clinic (PHC), a system that allows field health workers to perform basic checkups and share results with doctors remotely, the effort aims to bridge critical healthcare gaps in the region.

The Kyushu University Global Healthcare Team conducts research and implementation activities centered on PHC and, in the Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS), also operates as the PHC Module. The team is led by Professor Naoki Nakashima of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, alongside Professors Seiichi Morokuma of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rafiqul Islam of the Data-Driven Innovation Initiative, and Kimiyo Kikuchi of Q-AOS. Rocinantes is chaired by Dr. Naoyuki Kawahara, who also holds a position as Specially Appointed Professor at Kyushu University.

The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Sudanese Ministry of Health, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Sudanese Family Planning Association (SFPA), and Grameen Communications, with funding provided by the Government of Japan to UNFPA.

Following training for local healthcare workers in January 2026, the team conducted a total of 25 mobile clinic visits from February to April 2026 at Al Aman, Dar Alnaeem, and Al Wihda Women Development Centers. The PHC system enabled on-site health assessments and remote doctor consultations, bringing maternal care to communities with limited access to medical facilities.

Over the course of the pilot, the team recorded 372 antenatal care visits, 23 referrals to higher-level healthcare facilities, 19 telemedicine consultations, and 239 prescriptions issued. These findings suggest that the PHC system can help sustain maternal health services in conflict-affected settings.

“PHC helps bring essential maternal care closer to women with limited healthcare access,” says Nakashima.

Kyushu University will continue promoting digital health approaches to improve care for mothers and children in underserved communities.