Kulwa Saiduni, a resident of Bombo in Tanga Region, is among over 100,000 Tanzanians who can now access vital health information from the comfort of their homes. This follows the introduction of Vodacom’s Simu Doctor service which, as its name implies, aims to assist users through their phones.
This service is the first of its kind in Tanzania and is currently offered exclusively by Vodacom Tanzania. It brings together a panel of health specialists who have agreed to share their knowledge with local communities so as to make a meaningful contribution to Tanzanians wherever it is that they are located.
Kulwa had long struggled with adult acne that she self-treated topically to no avail. Her condition improved when she heeded the advice received through a health tip on Simu Doctor.
“I could not afford to see a specialist but through Simu Doctor, I got valuable advice that has helped me,” she said, adding: “I changed my diet, increased my intake of fruits and vegetables and incorporated nuts into my diet and my condition has since then improved.”
Simu Doctor was launched on November 4 and provides information on, among other things, the impact of changes in lifestyle on one’s health and various health issues.
This valuable subscription service which costs just 100/- per day, provides subscribers with up to two SMS health tips every day on how to live better and longer.
As anticipated, the service has been of great benefit to marginalised communities which do not have access to health or basic medical information.
This service further augments government’s efforts to attain Millennium Development Goal No. 6 which aims to prevent and combat various diseases.
The service offers regular updates that raise awareness on an array of health conditions as well as empowering users to take charge of their health.
“We all know that prevention is better than cure. Our subscribers can now access vital information that will enable them to better manage their health and life styles directly from the panel of health specialists who have volunteered to share their knowledge and expertise so as to benefit as many people as possible,” said Kelvin Twissa, Head of Brand & Communication at Vodacom.
He called on more Tanzanians to utilise this service which is, almost literally, right in their palms – adding that a well-informed community can prevent itself from diseases and take proper action whenever a medical emergency occurs.
The specialists are at the service of our subscribers and all that one needs to do to benefit is to subscribe by sensing a ‘DAKTARI’ sms to 15542.”
Specialists featured in this service include Dr Meshack Shimwela, Dr Sulende Kubhoja, who is a paediatrician and cardiologist, and Dr Munawar, an obstetrician/gynaecologist.
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