New app in Chad makes health information accessible to everyone

In many rural areas of Chad, the necessary infrastructure is lacking. Internet access is expensive and unreliable, not every family owns a smartphone, and high levels of illiteracy make written information difficult to access.
 

These barriers show that digital solutions alone are not enough – they need to be adapted to local realities.
 

That is why we have developed several approaches to make the app accessible, inclusive and easy to understand – even without an internet connection or the ability to read.

The app is divided into seven categories, covering everything from antenatal care, birth preparation and childbirth to the first days at home with the baby and postnatal check-ups. It addresses all the key stages and provides essential information for safe childbirth and postnatal care.

The app is deliberately called “Notre Bébé et Nous” because we want to encourage families to see childbirth as a shared responsibility between partners. The app actively involves men in the process, for example by encouraging them to accompany their partners to antenatal appointments or be present during childbirth.

The app is now live and being tested by people in the local communities. Our partner BASE wants to find out whether it provides genuine support in everyday life. Is it easy to understand? Does it work reliably? And is it reaching the families who need it?
 

Notre Bébé et Nous is an important addition to the valuable work of healthcare professionals – not a replacement for it. The app makes health information more accessible to women and their families in a simple, easy-to-understand way, without unnecessary barriers. Because the health of mothers and children should never depend on education, financial resources or where they live.