The Problem

In Kenya, 15 million families struggle to pay for healthcare. They must pay large sums of money every time they get sick, which leads to people delaying care, borrowing money, or self-medicating.

On the other hand, Kenya has over 20,000 trained nurses currently unemployed, while others earn unstable incomes working as extras and making 8 euros a day. In addition, many trained nurses still have skill gaps that hinder them from getting stable and decent employment opportunities.

The Solution

In order to tackle these issues, CheckUps has come up a tech-enabled, youth-powered affordable healthcare option. They do this by establishing a network of state of-the-art Urgent Care Centers in Kenya, driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare without worrying about the financial burden. Call centers will be open 24/7, and people can request a call from a doctor who reviews their case with a team. Afterwards, a diagnosis is given, and the medication is delivered to the patient. The patient does not have to pay until a medical need is established.

Not only will CheckUps provide more affordable healthcare, but will also provide an alternative pathway to flexible, dignified nursing work. The project meets youth aspirations by enabling nurses to work in their communities, earning steady wages of €280-€480 monthly. The system also leaves room for nurses to maintain other gigs while taking on cases, meaning that underemployed hospital nurses can earn a better income by utilizing the flexibility of CheckUps employment.

In total, CheckUps aims to create 817 decent clinical and community health jobs involving targeted recruitment, training, and ongoing mentorship to build an inclusive digitally enabled home care workforce. The objective is to recruit 2-4 nurses per 100 members to optimize proximity and rapid response times. CheckUps will attract and retain youth by tackling the following key barriers:

1. Upfront costs: Financed medical kits and e-bikes address accessibility constraints.
2. Skills gaps: Extensive training prepares nurses for quality in-home care.
3. Mobility limitations: Youth can work remotely in call centres with flexible scheduling.
4. Income instability: CheckUps’ performance pay structure provides financial security, with average earnings rising from €8 to €25

Finally, as 90% of nursing graduates are female, safety protocols like location tracking, cashless payments, and emergency response resources will be issued. Ongoing feedback channels will also be established to identify emerging issues. Potential risks for female nurses making home visits also include harassment and assault. Therefore, CheckUps will mandate identity verification, route tracking, risk profiling, and a companion to high-risk households. By mitigating risks while meeting aspirations, the CheckUps model enables safe, sustainable nursing livelihoods. In general, CheckUps will strategically recruit, train, upskill and mentor youth to fill healthcare gaps.