Afya na Haki launches repropulse dashboard to track reproductive health cases

9 August 2025, 12:48 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Afya na Haki, a rights-based organisation known for its advocacy on sexual and reproductive health rights among other health and social justice concerns, has developed a platform called Repropulse to track and analyse reproductive justice cases across the African continent.

The result of six months of intensive drafting, development, and testing, Repropulse was launched on 7 August 2025 during the 3rd Annual Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza in Wakiso by Afya na Haki. The platform is an online dashboard designed to empower policymakers, lawyers, activists, and the public by providing a centralised space to upload, monitor, and study reproductive health cases in real time. It uses artificial intelligence to generate dynamic visualisations that help users understand trends, legal strategies, and policy impacts across different African countries.

Michael Kuteesa, who works in the IT department at Afya na Haki, explained that the organisation has always encouraged young people to combine technology with social justice advocacy. This inspired the creation of the Repropulse dashboard.

“The primary purpose is to track and analyse reproductive justice cases on the African continent,” said Kuteesa. “We use what we call the epicentre approach, specifically targeting regions of Africa through our network of partners in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Madagascar, South Africa, and many other countries.”

Users of the platform can upload cases along with related laws, policies, articles, and judgments they have relied on. A moderation team then vets submissions to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data published. This system maintains the platform’s credibility while enabling anyone—from grassroots activists to legal professionals—to contribute valuable information.

“For example, if you are the first person to document a case about emergency post-abortion care where legal strategies were lacking due to under-resourcing, your uploaded case will serve as a foundation for future advocates,” Kuteesa noted. “The next person can access it, repurpose it, and strategise based on what you have shared.”

Across Africa, reproductive health challenges remain critical, with millions of women facing unsafe abortions and limited access to contraceptive services. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 29,000 women die annually from complications related to unsafe abortions. In Uganda alone, 12 mothers die every day from childbirth-related causes. Unsafe abortions, maternal mortality, and restricted reproductive rights highlight the urgent need for improved legal frameworks and accessible health services. The Repropulse platform supports this cause by offering a centralised resource for tracking reproductive justice cases, enabling stakeholders to share legal strategies, identify effective policies, and ultimately work towards safer, more equitable reproductive healthcare across the continent.

One of the platform’s key features is its use of artificial intelligence to provide real-time visualisations and comparative analysis. Policymakers can use these insights to evaluate which laws or strategies are effective in specific countries and identify gaps requiring urgent attention.

“With these visualisations, you can make informed decisions and see where to focus efforts for policy change,” explained Kuteesa. “For example, if a particular approach is working well in Nigeria, it can be adapted in Uganda or Madagascar.”

Repropulse aims not only to collect cases but to breathe life into them so that decisions made today have a lasting impact years down the line. The goal is to create a living, growing repository of reproductive justice knowledge that transcends borders and empowers marginalised communities across Africa.

“We want to bring dead cases to life,” Kuteesa emphasised. “A case from 2025 should still have an impact in 2030 because it remains accessible, repurposable, and influential.”

While other platforms exist that house legal case repositories, Repropulse is unique in its exclusive focus on reproductive justice, ensuring users can quickly find the most relevant information to advance this critical cause.

Currently accessible online, the team at Afya na Haki is actively working to develop a mobile application version. This will make the platform more accessible to people in marginalised and resource-limited communities who may have limited internet access.

“As we grow, we want to ensure anyone with internet access, even in remote areas, can benefit from Repropulse,” said Kuteesa.