Medical Aid Films

What Medical Aid Films does

Medical Aid Films is a UK-registered charity (No. 1121578, Company No. 06296236), founded in 2007 and headquartered in London, that produces multilingual health education films targeted at women, children, adolescents, and frontline health workers in low and middle-income countries. Its core asset is a library of more than 700 films available in over 50 languages and dialects, covering maternal health, newborn care, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, malaria, non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension), and general health education. Content is delivered through a self-service digital platform (medicalaidfilms.org, YouTube, Vimeo) with free streaming and download for personal/non-commercial use, complemented by partner-led distribution via NGOs, health ministries, and community screenings using projectors and mobile devices for offline populations.

The organization operates four service lines: Film and Animation Production (bespoke content creation, often grant-funded), Multimedia Training (integrated curricula for health workers), Project Design Consultancy (evaluation and program design), and Film Licensing (B2B fees for commercial/organizational use). Films are produced either as internally developed assets or as co-developed projects with partners such as Living Goods, One Heart Worldwide, the International Rescue Committee, VSO, and government health ministries in Zambia, Nigeria (Ondo State), and Saint Lucia. Research partnerships with LSHTM, King's College London, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provide academic validation.

Revenue derives from charitable donations (including a Big Give Christmas Challenge and BBC Radio 4 Appeal), restricted project grants from foundations (Vitol Foundation, Children's Investment Foundation Fund) and institutional donors (USAID), content licensing for commercial use, and a recurring "Friends of Medical Aid Films" monthly membership program. The organization has 11–50 employees, is governed by a Board of Trustees, and is led by CEO Catherine McCarthy and Charity Director Dina Prior (appointed October 2024). Films have been watched over 44 million times on YouTube and reached across 184 countries, with 8 million+ people reached with health content in a single year and 1 million+ reached through direct partner implementation.

Name

Medical Aid Films

Legal name

Medical Aid Films Limited

Website

http://www.medicalaidfilms.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Medical Aid Films is a UK-registered charity founded in 2007 that produces multilingual health education films for women, children, and frontline health workers in low and middle-income countries, distributing a 700+ film library across 50+ languages to 184 countries via partners and free digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Education Media and Content

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical & Clinical Reference (Physicians, Nursing, Allied Health) (EDAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Sciences & Nursing (EDAGABAF), Special Needs & Inclusive Educational Programming (MPABAKAJ), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Health education films
• Maternal health media
• Multilingual health content
• Community health worker training
• Global health charity media

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Medical Aid Films operates as a registered charity (No. 1121578) primarily funded through donations from supporters, trusts, and foundations. The organization runs fundraising campaigns including the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
2. Content Licensing: Organizations and commercial entities can license films for educational activities, training, workshops, screenings, and inclusion in film libraries. License fees support the organization's mission.
3. Friends of Medical Aid Films Membership: Monthly subscription-style membership program providing exclusive access to films, event invitations, and quarterly updates in exchange for regular contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Medical Aid Films creates, licenses, and distributes multilingual health education films and digital media content covering maternal and newborn health, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, and communicable and non-communicable diseases. The organization offers custom film and animation production, multimedia training, project design and evaluation consultancy, and a 700+ film library available in 50+ languages for free personal viewing and licensed organizational use.

Product overview

Medical Aid Films is a UK-registered charity (established 2007) that creates health education films and digital media content to save lives and improve women's health and gender equity. The organization operates a core Film Library of 700+ films available in 50+ languages covering maternal health, newborn and child health, nutrition, HIV, malaria, COVID-19, sexual and reproductive health, and non-communicable diseases. Additional offerings include Film and Animation Production services, Multimedia Training programs, Project Design Consultancy, and Film Licensing for organizations. Key projects include the SCREEN Project in Zambia and Maternal and Newborn Nutrition Animations created with Living Goods and the Children's Investment Foundation Fund. Content is distributed through the organization's website, Vimeo, YouTube, WhatsApp, mobile platforms, radio, and in-person screenings using projectors and TV screens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Library A library of 700+ health education films available in 50+ languages covering maternal health, newborn care, nutrition, HIV, malaria, COVID-19, sexual and reproductive health, diabetes, hypertension, and other global health topics. Films are available for free streaming and download for personal/non-commercial use on the website, Vimeo, and YouTube channels, and can be licensed for organizational use.
• Film and Animation Production Custom film and animation production services creating powerful health education films and digital media to save lives and promote gender equity; commissioned by partner NGOs, health ministries, and other organizations for tailored health education content.
• Multimedia Training Training programs utilizing multimedia content to equip health workers and communities with vital knowledge and skills, including tablet-based health worker training delivered via partnerships (e.g., the Ondo State pilot in Nigeria with 200 health workers across 18 health centers).
• Project Design Consultancy Consultancy services for project design and evaluation to help partners develop impactful health media and communications initiatives, including research and impact measurement on the effectiveness of health education films.
• Film Licensing Bespoke licensing agreements available for organizations that want to download or use films for commercial purposes, educational activities, workshops, screenings, or inclusion in film libraries; fee structure varies by request and organization type.

Quantifiable outcome

• Films watched 44 million times on YouTube
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• One Heart WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced educational films for the Network of Safety model in Nepal, adapting content for socio-cultural context. Research partnership published in Women's Health journal demonstrating effectiveness of educational films in increasing maternal and newborn health knowledge.
• Living GoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create maternal and newborn nutrition animations integrated into Community Health Promoter (CHP) counseling initiative in Busia, Kenya. The animations provided information on diet, supplementation, antenatal care, and breastfeeding.
• Zambian Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for SCREEN project, collaborating on film development on adolescent sexual reproductive health, mental health, and gender. Provides official endorsement and integration into national health programs.
• SAfAIDS ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for SCREEN project, supporting film production and community outreach in Zambia with expertise in HIV and sexual reproductive health.
• VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on men's engagement in women's health initiatives, including events at House of Commons. Partner in global health programs combining volunteer expertise with film-based health education.
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and evaluation partnership including ZikaPlan project collaboration. Academic partner for film-based research, impact measurement, and evidence generation on effectiveness of health education films.
• Fistula FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce training film on nursing care for women with obstetric fistula. Foundation provided funding and expertise for content development filmed at Gynocare Fistula Centre in Kenya.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce films for the Microlife Vital Signs Alert (VSA) device project, helping health workers learn to identify warning signs in pregnancy. Device developed by King's researchers to detect shock and high blood pressure.
• International Confederation of MidwivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'A Midwife Like Me' film celebrating the role of midwives globally. ICM provides professional expertise and global network for content distribution.
• Wellbeing Foundation AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership featuring Her Excellency Toyin Saraki (Founder-President) in film production. Foundation supports maternal, newborn, and child health initiatives across Africa.
• InStrat Global Health SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for tablet-based health worker training program in Nigeria. Developed curriculum integrating MAF films for maternal and child health training in Ondo State.
• Digital CampuscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for tablet-based training platform, enabling film delivery and health worker training through digital learning management systems.
• mPowering Frontline Health WorkerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting development of health worker training content and platforms. Provided support for Nigeria program and content localization in Yoruba and Hausa languages.
• Ondo State Primary Health Care Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Nigeria piloting tablet-based training program with MAF films. 12-week pilot trained 200 health workers across 18 health centers, with plans to scale to 550 facilities.
• Women for Women RwandaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal partner using MAF films in Kinyarwanda for community health programs in Rwanda. Films distributed through organization's community outreach.
• CORE GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on vaccination projects to increase vaccine uptake worldwide. MAF produces educational films for immunization campaigns as part of CORE Group's global health programming.
• The Fred Hollows FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Stronger-SAFE trachoma project in Ethiopia, producing films documenting trial experiences and benefits.
• Picturing HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for HIV paediatric case study films and CPAP respiratory care film series for health worker training in Africa.
• The Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Leading Safe Choices program for family planning and safe abortion care education films.
• The Nomad FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUsing MAF films to train birth attendants from Tuareg and Wodaabe nomadic tribes in Northern Niger for six years.
• International Rescue CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Non-Communicable Diseases Consortium Project, producing films on diabetes and hypertension for community health workers in humanitarian settings. Funded by USAID and OFDA.
• Kailash Satyarthi Children's FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'A Brighter Future' animated film series for children affected by child labor, produced with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Evidence Action: Scales evidence-based health and nutrition interventions in LMICs; comparable organizational profile (non-profit, research-driven, partner-delivered models) competing for similar donor funding pools.
• CORE Group: Coalition of NGOs producing community health and immunization toolkits; partners with MAF on vaccination films and operates in the same global health program-implementation ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF: Global UN agency producing multilingual health communication and training content for mothers, children, and adolescents; significantly larger scale and budget, with overlapping maternal/child health messaging.
• BBC Media Action: The BBC's international development charity producing multilingual health, governance, and humanitarian media in 50+ countries—larger incumbent with overlapping multilingual health broadcasting but broader thematic remit.

Emerging players

• One Heart Worldwide: Implements the Network of Safety model for maternal/newborn health in Nepal; co-produces training films with MAF and shares the same target audience of skilled birth attendants in rural settings.
• HealthPhone: Distributes free health and nutrition videos via mobile in multiple languages for low-literacy audiences in developing countries; comparable distribution model (free, mobile-first, multilingual) targeting similar end-user segments.
• mPowering Frontline Health Workers: Curates digital health worker training content (including MAF films) for frontline health workers in LMICs—operates in the same content-for-CHWs niche and has been a direct MAF partner.
• Living Goods: Supports community health promoters in Africa with digital tools and training content; an active MAF partner (maternal nutrition animations in Kenya), operating adjacent training-content workflows for the same CHW segment.

Direct peers

• Global Health Media Project: Produces free, high-quality video content for health workers and families in low-resource settings—directly overlapping MAF's core mission of training frontline health workers and community members through short instructional films.
• Digital Green: Uses video-based extension to disseminate knowledge in health, agriculture, and nutrition across South Asia and Africa; comparable community-led video production and partner-distribution model in similar geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maffilmsforlife
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJpt9KN7frvqdszcQzECI7w
• Facebookfacebook.com/medicalaidfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Medical Aid Films