Strengthening global healthcare systems: Amazon Web Services (AWS) selects Proximie for Health Equity Initiative

Proximie’s work in strengthening Kenya’s health system is being supported by technical expertise and computing credits from Amazon Web Services.

Proximie is participating in the Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) Health Equity Initiative - a project that is already driving important change across healthcare systems in Kenya.

The AWS initiative is a $60 million, three-year commitment, supporting organizations developing solutions to advance health equity. Through the initiative, AWS offers AWS credits and customized technical expertise to selected organizations around the world that want to use AWS services to improve health outcomes and health equity.

The support from AWS is advancing Proximie’s efforts to strengthen Kenya’s health system, focusing on:

• Expanding the use cases of Proximie into specialist, complex surgeries, such as neurosurgery; laparoscopy; plastics; orthopaedics; and trauma;
• Establishing digital innovation hubs in key teaching and referral hospitals; and
• Modernizing surgical residency training and mentorship programmes via Proximie, to support growth of Kenya’s surgical workforce.

Kenya is estimated to have c. 2.35 surgical, anaesthesia, and obstetric personnel per 100,000 people - well below the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery’s goal of 20 personnel per 100,000 people. The rollout of solutions enhancing surgical access and health equity are vital to improve access to safe surgery and patient outcomes in the country.¹

Shannon Shibata-Germanos, Head of Global Health at Proximie, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Amazon Web Services via its Health Equity Initiative. Creating a sustainable impact on global health has been an integral part of Proximie’s DNA from the very beginning. The technical expertise and services provided by AWS will be invaluable as we continue to focus on reducing health inequity and widening global access to safe and effective surgery.”

Maggie Carter, Global Lead - Social Impact at Amazon Web Services, added: “AWS believes individual health outcomes should not depend on socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or neighbourhood.  

“Cloud technology can help address inequities in global health to expand access to the services people need to live longer, healthier lives–no matter who they are or where they live. Through the AWS Health Equity Initiative, we look forward to helping Proximie and other organisations worldwide use the power of cloud computing to advance health equity and improve health outcomes.”

The Health Equity Initiative is already driving significant change in Kenya, with Proximie’s technology being scaled across the region.

In March 2024, Proximie demonstrated the power of digital technology integrated within surgical education at The University of Nairobi, Nairobi Surgical Skills Centre (NSSC) Unveiling Event. As part of Proximie and AWS’ partnership the NSSC has been equipped with Proximie’s cutting edge technology platform.

Proximie is now enabling institutions, partners and healthcare systems across Kenya, the region and internationally to access the world class training and best practice that is occurring at The Nairobi Surgical Skills Centre and The University of Nairobi. As more hubs emerge, opportunities for collaborative learning and oversight become a reality via Proximie’s capacity to broadcast, record and archive surgeries remotely and in real-time. The initial seven Innovation Hub expansion sites are made possible by Proximie’s Amazon AWS Health Equity Award, which is donating hardware to equip the sites.

Earlier this year, Proximie and the Surgical Society of Kenya announced their partnership through INNOVATE+: a results-driven public-private partnership which demonstrates the transformative power of digital technology in addressing inequitable access to surgical care. It places Proximie as a critical enabler for the scaling of evidence-based interventions to strengthen the capacity of the surgical workforce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to deliver safe and timely surgical care to all.

Proximie's integration into Kenya Health Systems had initially begun in Makueni County under the leadership of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior within their Obstetric Safe Surgery Programme across five county hospitals, and has now extended into General Surgery and Neurosurgery. Based on local leadership, Proximie has now spread to the capital city of Nairobi as well as to Nakuru and Mombasa enabling digital communities of practice to emerge.

Dr. Shannon adds: “Our mission through our Global Health efforts, has always been to make Proximie a best-in-class digital platform accessible to everyone, no matter where they live, and to contribute to modernising surgical mentorship, and quality improvement efforts through augmenting evidence-based training programmes."

To learn more about the AWS initiative, visit https://aws.amazon.com/health/health-equity.
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References:

¹ A Narrative Review of Kenya’s Surgical Capacity Using the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery’s Indicator Framework - PMC (nih.gov)