Fast Company Announces Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) as 2012 Innovation by Design Award Winner

The Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) has been named 2012 Fast Company Innovation By Design Award winner in the Service Design Category; the world’s leading progressive  business media brand featured the finalists in its October Issue.  MAMA is a unique partnership focused on changing and saving the lives of the new and expectant mothers in developing countries with vital and culturally-sensitive health messages via their mobile phones.  Winners were chosen among more than 1,700 nominated organizations including Nike, Boeing, Ford, and Leap Motion and other industry leaders.

“Every day, mothers babies are dying due to lack of access to basic health information,” said Kirsten Gagnaire, Global Director of MAMA.  “MAMA winning the Fast Company Innovation by Design Award draws attention to how we can use mobile technology to save lives around the world—we’re thrilled to have our work recognized. ”

MAMA is a public-private partnership launched in May 2011 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Johnson & Johnson, the mHealth Alliance, the United Nations Foundation and BabyCenter.  MAMA was granted with this award in recognition of its adaptable messaging service and its in-country programs that have already reached organizations in 35 countries from Afghanistan to Zambia with a projected reach of more than 20 million moms.

The Innovation by Design Competition awards “the year’s most inspiring, ingenious, and innovative design solutions.” Submissions for the award were vetted by 27 independent and prominent judges, from Museum of Modern Art Senior Curator Paola Antonelli to Coca-Cola Vice President of innovation David Butler.

MAMA subscribers register for the mobile phone service by indicating their expected due date or the birthday of their recently-born child, and receive weekly health messages and reminders during the pregnancy and up to the infant’s first birthday.  Timed messages include important information on proper nutrition, newborn care, breastfeeding, immunizations, and connections to local health resources.  For more information about MAMA, its free, adaptable mobile messages, and how to join the partnership, visit MobileMAMAalliance.org.  To get new updates on MAMA’s Fast Company awards and winners, go to www.mobilemamaalliance.organd follow us on Twitter: @mamaglobal

Tweet Me:  Great news! @Mamaglobal is a @FastCoDesign Innovation by Design Award Winner.  Learn more at www.mobilemamaalliance.org #FastCoDesign.

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The Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) engages an innovative global community to deliver vital health information to new and expectant mothers through mobile phones.  MAMA is making a three-year, $10 million investment to create and strengthen programs in three countries – Bangladesh, India and South Africa – and to enhance global capability of new and existing mobile health information programs for moms in those countries and beyond.