MSD Recognizes HERA Digital Health with 2025 Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity

HERA Digital Health, a pioneering organization addressing critical needs in humanitarian settings, was announced as the 2025 recipient of the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity. This annual award is granted by MSD for Mothers, our company’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life, and recognizes organizations committed to accelerating progress toward quality maternal health care for all.

HERA is transforming access to care for some of the most vulnerable communities worldwide. The organization was recognized for its innovative, mobile health platform designed to connect displaced women with essential maternal health care services. The platform diligently tracks attendance records for prenatal checkup appointments so that expectant mothers receive the care they need.

Displaced women typically receive just one prenatal checkup during pregnancy, which is well below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of at least eight contacts. HERA is working to close these gaps. Through their intuitive and accessible mobile app, which offers culturally relevant, multilingual support and portable medical records, even those with little or no technology experience can easily access vital preventative health care, helping to improve outcomes for mothers and children around the world.

“One way our platform is making a transformative difference is by expanding access to prenatal care in childhood vaccinations for Syrian refugees under temporary protection," said Dr. Aral Surmeli, Chief Executive Officer at HERA Digital Health. “We are proud to have reached nearly 250,000 users so far, and, thanks to this award and MSD for Mothers’ support, we aim to expand our impact to 300,000 users in need throughout Türkiye.”

Established in 2021, this annual award honors Kenneth C. Frazier, former chairman and CEO of MSD, and his dedication to help ensure safe and equitable maternal health for all. Previous honorees have prioritized strategic, culturally sensitive care and empowered communities to address maternal health challenges faced by underserved populations. HERA and previous recipients continue to build on Kenneth C. Frazier’s and our company’s legacy by addressing critical health gaps and advancing equitable access to care.