Background: Preeclampsia remains one of the leading causes of preventable maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In many rural and underserved communities, delayed recognition of danger signs, limited awareness, and barriers to timely healthcare contribute significantly to poor pregnancy outcomes.Following my own experience as a preeclampsia survivor, I founded MamaWatch Association to address these gaps through community education, advocacy, and digital innovation.

Objective: This presentation describes the development of a community-led maternal health initiative designed to improve early recognition and prevention of preeclampsia while strengthening referral pathways and empowering women to seek timely antenatal care.

Methods: MamaWatch implements community outreaches, health education workshops,survivor advocacy, and partnerships with healthcare professionals to increase awareness of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The initiative also incorporates the design of a digital maternal health platform intended to support risk screening, health education, symptom monitoring, and referral for women, particularly in rural communities.

Results: Since its establishment, MamaWatch has conducted multiple community outreach activities and educational workshops, reaching more than 455 women with evidence-based maternal health information. These activities have increased awareness of preeclampsia warning signs, encouraged earlier healthcare seeking, strengthened collaboration with healthcare providers, and informed the development of a scalable digital health model.

Conclusion: Community-led maternal health initiatives, informed by lived experience and strengthened through digital innovation, have significant potential to improve early recognition of preeclampsia and reduce preventable maternal and newborn complications. The MamaWatch model offers a scalable approach that can be adapted across Cameroon and other African settings.

Nkanjoh Stella Kari is the Founder and Executive Director of MamaWatch Association, a legally registered maternal and neonatal health organization based in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. A biology educator, public health advocate, and preeclampsia survivor, she established MamaWatch after surviving severe preeclampsia and an emergency preterm Caesarean delivery. Her personal experience inspired her commitment to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths through community education, advocacy, and digital innovation. She has led multiple maternal health outreaches and awareness campaigns, reaching hundreds of women. MamaWatch is a member of the African Preeclampsia Network and is developing a digital maternal health platform to improve early risk identification and referral.