NAIROBI, Kenya- In a world where AI often feels limited to high-tech gadgets and ultra-connected smartphones, a new wave of SMS-based AI chatbots is making a big impact in Kenya, especially among low-income communities.
These AI-powered SMS systems, tailored to reach even the most basic mobile devices—locally known as “kabambes”—are changing the game by delivering vital health advice to millions of women.
One standout is PROMPTS, an AI-enabled tool developed by Jacaranda Health, a Kenyan nonprofit, that serves as a “virtual obstetrician” via SMS for expecting mothers.
PROMPTS delivers essential, personalized guidance in both English and Swahili, helping women navigate their pregnancy journey safely, even in remote regions.
Imagine being able to ask questions about pregnancy from the comfort of your own home, with no internet needed. For many expecting mothers in Kenya, PROMPTS is a lifeline.
By simply signing up through a text message, new and expecting mothers can access free, personalized AI-generated advice that’s customized to their unique pregnancy journey.
The tool asks users to provide basic information, such as age and pregnancy stage, creating a profile to deliver tailored guidance and appointment reminders.
The tool’s AI-powered responses are crafted with empathy, thanks to natural language processing (NLP) that helps the chatbot understand and respond to users in a conversational, human-like tone.
Jacaranda Health’s Director of Technology, Jay Patel, notes that this personalization extends beyond just answering questions; PROMPTS even considers regional factors like weather conditions to give context-aware advice.
But the tool doesn’t stop at SMS replies. The system is equipped with a clinical help desk for high-urgency questions.
For example, if a mother reports a serious symptom like a severe headache, the system routes her inquiry to a health practitioner who can advise her directly and, if necessary, arrange transportation to a health facility.
The tool, developed in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and county governments, is now available across 23 counties in over 1,200 health centers.
Community health workers also promote its use in villages, helping ensure that rural mothers are aware of this resource.
With approximately 6,300 Kenyan women dying each year due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, initiatives like PROMPTS could be transformative.
PROMPTS isn’t just a one-way communication tool, either. Data collected from mothers’ questions and feedback is used to improve health services across Kenya.
Jacaranda compiles this data into dashboards, which are then shared with healthcare facilities to drive data-informed improvements.
Recently, Google awarded the nonprofit a $1.4 million grant through Google.org to scale up the tool and selected Jacaranda for its first Generative AI Accelerator.
With these funds and support, Jacaranda has now open-sourced the LLM powering PROMPTS, enabling others to adapt the tool for new languages, platforms, or even entirely different sectors, such as mental health and agriculture.
Looking ahead, Jacaranda is developing voice support for the platform, which could make the tool accessible even to those who may find texting challenging.
As PROMPTS continues to expand—now reaching into Eswatini, Ghana, and with pilots in Nigeria and Nepal—it’s a testament to how AI can bridge the gap between tech and basic mobile devices, making a critical difference for mothers across Kenya and beyond.
