(CHIP) Digital Health Census, Longitudinal Primary Health Follow-Up, and Disease Surveillance Through a Unified Mobile Platform

## **The Role of M-Health, Social Events, and Festivals in Community Health Engagement**

#### **Hilderruth Allan Shoo**

Mobile Afya, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania

World health systems descending into near collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic have been an eyeopener to global and environmental health stakeholders. It has prompted many discussions featuring experts from different disciplines on how to combat this major health setback, from a change in moral codes, cultural taboos, and beliefs, and using alternative medicine to fight against this deadly pandemic. We believe that the world is a better place when the earth is conserved and furthermore improved to better support our natural resources and life in general. The color green, as it can be seen as our company's theme, encompasses the goals and vision of "Reinventing Global Health in Times of Global Challenges" as it represents life and a healthier Africa. The initiatives we have undertaken cut across different fields of knowledge, from tech to the health sector.


Mobile Afya is the first USSD application in Africa using internet-free mobile technology to provide basic health information and education in local and native languages, starting with Swahili in Tanzania, East Africa. The app is developed by healthcare professionals, medical doctors, and public health specialists with the support of engineers and tech innovators. We have subscribed 12,000 Mobile Afya users who come from more than 10 regions in Tanzania. We receive an average of 1,000 requests per day, and we have had 346,330 total sessions so far. Mobile Afya has organized several outreach services and participated in public health fairs, engaging directly with our users and offering free basic health services offering blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index checkups, eye checkup, and blood donation. The provision of evidence-based knowledge and awareness while involving the communities directly has proven to be effective in preventing diseases and allowing people to make informed decisions. This has empowered the society to take action to improve its health status.

Hilderruth Allan Shoo

Mobile Afya, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania

#### Introduction

The descent of world health systems into near collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic has been an eye opener for global and environmental health stakeholders. It has prompted many discussions featuring experts from different disciplines on how to combat this major health setback, from a change in moral codes, cultural taboos, and beliefs to the use of alternative medicine to fight against this deadly pandemic.

We believe that the world is a better place when the Earth is conserved and furthermore improved to better support our natural resources and life in general. The color green encompasses the goals and visions towards "Reinventing Global Health in times of Global Changes", as it represents life and a healthier Africa. This is why it can be seen in our company's theme.

#### Results and Discussion

Mobile Afya is the first USSD application in Africa using internet-free mobile technology to provide basic health information and education in local and native languages, starting with Swahili in Tanzania, East Africa. The app has been developed by healthcare professionals, medical doctors and public health specialists with the support of engineers and tech innovators.

We have signed up 12,000 Mobile Afya users from more than 10 regions in Tanzania. We receive an average of 1,000 requests per day and have had 346,330 total sessions so far.

Mobile Afya has organized several outreach services and participated in public health fairs, engaging directly with our users and offering free basic health services, including blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index checkups, eye and dental checkups and blood donation centers.

#### Methodology

The initiatives we have undertaken cut across different fields of knowledge, from tech to the health sector.

#### Conclusions

The provision of evidence-based knowledge and awareness while involving communities directly has proven to be effective in preventing diseases and allowing people to make informed decisions. This has empowered the community to take action to improve its health status.

#### Initiatives

