Empowering Women, Transforming Communities: The SMART Health Champion Project
In Bangladesh, over 66% of women of reproductive age face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, including the need for permission, financial constraints, lack of transportation, or the requirement of accompaniment (Hinata et al., 2023). This reality leaves nearly 30 million women without regular access to essential health services. Among them are 4 million workers, predominantly women, employed in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, where access to quality healthcare is even more challenging.
Recognizing this critical gap, MedAi launched the SMART Health Champion Project, an innovative initiative designed to empower women as digital health facilitators using the AmarDoctor platform. This project aims to transform healthcare access for female RMG workers, not only improving their well-being but also creating a sustainable model of community-based health empowerment.
Our project coordinator Susmita Saha training RMG factory workers in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
The Vision: Women as Health Champions
The SMART Health Champion Project is built on a simple but powerful idea: empowering women to become leaders in their communities by providing them with the tools and training needed to deliver essential healthcare services. These champions are trained to use the AmarDoctor digital health app, an AI-powered platform that provides easy access to medical consultations, health education, and vital sign monitoring.
SMART Health Champions in Savar are learning how to measure blood sugar
Pilot Phase: Training the First SMART Health Champions
Launched in late Spring 2024, the pilot phase of the program began with the training of five female workers from Bangladesh’s largest women-centered industry—the RMG sector. These women were selected because of their firsthand experience with the lack of healthcare access in their communities. The training equipped them with the skills to (i) measure vital signs, (ii) Use the AmarDoctor app to book virtual consultations with licensed doctors for patients and (iii) finally explain the prescription after the virtual consultation.
SMART Health Champion Tarin helping a community member
Breaking Barriers and Building Trust
The SMART Health Champions did not just offer healthcare—they became trusted health advisors within their factories and neighborhoods. Using their training, they provided vital health services to hundreds of women who would otherwise struggle to access care. By creating awareness both offline and through social media campaigns, these Champions helped bridge the gap between digital healthcare and vulnerable communities.
Health Champions were rewarded quarterly for their tremendous efforts and based on their performance.
A Ripple Effect of Change
Beyond direct healthcare access, the SMART Health Champion Project fosters a ripple effect of change. Women who receive healthcare support from Champions are more likely to share their experiences with others, promoting a culture of health awareness and proactive care. The initiative not only empowers individual Champions but also strengthens the communities they serve.
The Path Forward
MedAi’s SMART Health Champion Project is not just a healthcare initiative—it is a movement to democratize
healthcare access for the most underserved populations. As the program scales, MedAi plans to train more
Champions, extend coverage to other industries, and further enhance the technology that powers
AmarDoctor.
By empowering women to take control of their health and support their communities, MedAi is making healthcare
accessible, inclusive, and truly transformative.