MOBILE AFYA
“Mobile encyclopedia for public health in Africa”
Mobile afya is the first USSD application in Africa using internet-free mobile technology to provide basic health information in local and native languages starting with Swahili in Tanzania, East Africa. The application is developed by medical professionals, doctors, engineers and tech innovators.
OUR MAIN GOALS:
Provide access of health information to all Africans.
Influence informed decisions driven by public health knowledge.
HOW IT WORKS
User dials our access code *147*47#
Choose service or topic they want to get information from
And receive text message (SMS) with the information requested
OUR WHY
There is a gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that do not or have only restricted access. Focusing on the health sector, this digital divide gap prevents distribution of essential information and knowledge to those who need it most.
Results of the gap are unnecessary suffering and deaths from easily preventable diseases and health conditions. It also continues family cycles of poverty due to lack of access to information on family planning. This results in large numbers of unplanned children and high levels of child/teen pregnancy amongst other negative side effects.
MOBILE AFYA FEATURES
HEALTH
CONDITIONS
(DISEASES)
The app covers communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), mental health and dental health. Now any Tanzanian with a mobile phone can make informed decisions guided by correct and scientifically verified health information.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
The app covers menstrual health and maternal health. Women can now access a period calendar tracker with information about predictions of next period, ovulation and fertility window but it also equips mothers with basic knowledge of how to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
FIRST AID
The app equips local communities with information on how to give immediate assistance to a person suffering from illness or injury before taking them to a health center or hospital. This aims to preserve life, prevent the emergency condition from worsening, or to promote recovery.
PARENTING TOOLS
The app focuses on adolescent health by providing a general understanding to parents on topics such as adolescence, sexually transmitted diseases, sex education and healthy tips to strengthen sexual and reproductive health literacy.
WHAT MAKES MOBILE AFYA UNIQUE
ACCESSIBILITY
Mobile afya is accessible in all types of phones - feature phones (offline) & smart phones, therefore serving all users with mobile phones in east Africa. The app is packed with verified and accurate health content developed by medical professionals.
FAMILIARITY
Mobile afya is in Swahili language (the most spoken language in Africa) and has the same usability protocols as mobile money wallets (m-commerce product with more than 135 million users in Africa)
USSD TECHNOLOGY
Mobile afya is an offline app because the majority of all mobile users in Tanzania do not have access to internet, as they use feature mobile phones or are unable to afford data plans.
PRIVACY
Mobile afya is designed with the user in mind. The application does not collect personal information apart from mobile numbers and location. Also, content is received via SMS and can be kept or deleted based on the user’s preference.
B2B ADDED VALUE
Mobile afya subscription is made easy and can be done in 60 seconds through integrated mobile wallet payment systems. Mobile afya brings new business to mobile network operators and adds value to their mobile money / wallet services.
PUBLIC HEALTH DATA
Mobile afya utilizes the available infrastructure in Africa through mobile technology and creates public health data to support the efforts of the Government and development stakeholders in transforming the health sector.
PRODUCT
First app release (pilot): November, 2019
Sustainability / Revenue model
€1 . 15 / TZS 3,000 - Annual subscription
(12 months access)
SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
SDG GOAL NO 3 - GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING
SDG GOAL NO 4 - QUALITY EDUCATION
AS COVERED BY MEDIA
FOUNDING TEAM
4 women from 3 countries passionate about public health and the role of technology to enhance and impact lives.
MILESTONES
Research & Design
2016 - 2018
Research and user understanding
Prototyping and MVP development
Usability testing & price validation
MVP product release and testing
Product testing & release
2019 - 2020
Product development, final testing and deployment
Acquired operating license from TCRA (Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority) licensed code *147*47#
Currently Mobile afya is piloting with an aggregator while integrating with MNOs (Mobile network operators)
Mobile afya has secured funding for 2020 operations budget and app’s official launch
TEAM
ANNA N. JOSEPH NDAMCHO
Medical & digital communications
CHENGULA HOSEA
Mass communication
DR. ERICK KIGADYE
Medical Intern
DR. JOSHUA TADAYO
Medical Intern
DR. SAMIRA OTHMAN MGUMIA
Medical Intern
DENNIS SCHRIDDE
Site reliability engineer
ERICK FILBERT LUTA
Medical Intern
GIDEON I. NIYONTIMBA
Medical Intern
IRIS CHRIST
User understanding & research
LEA RUFFER
Communications & media assistant
MADISON STADLER-ROSE
Data analysis & scalability
MESHACK MORICE
Medical Intern
NEEMA DASHINA
Medical Intern
SOPHIA S. NKYA
Medical Intern
UPTAN ALLY
Medical intern
ACCELERATE OUR IMPACT
We are looking for donors, investors and partners to help us get Mobile afya in the hands of more people.
The next round of fundraising is scheduled to start soon, come grow and achieve new milestones with us. For any interests, kindly contact us.