MOH, Safaricom partner to set up call centre to support CHPs

The Ministry of Health has partnered with Safaricom to establish a dedicated call centre which will provide seamless and efficient support to Community Health promoters and the counties.

In the collaboration, Safaricom will also provide cyber security assessment and support to the National Health Data Centre.

This initiative, according to the ministry, will ensure the safety of data in the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) hosted in the data centre.

Speaking during the launch of the East Africa device assembly Kenya plant in Mlolongo on Monday, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha reiterated the government's commitment to leverage technology as a powerful catalyst for achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Together with the county governments, the national government recently launched empowered and fully kitted 100,000 CHPs.

“The ministry is partnering with Safaricom to ensure that each Community Health Promoters (CHPs) has a smartphone installed with an electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS),” Nakhumicha said.

She said the smartphones supplied by Safaricom were locally assembled and customised for the Community Health programme.

“We are harnessing the great potential of digital health solutions to address various healthcare challenges,” Nakhumicha said.

“These include limited access to medical services in rural areas, inefficient health information management, portability of patient data and disparities in healthcare delivery,” she added.

Nakhumicha further noted that the ministry has placed a strong emphasis on implementing preventive and promotive health services.

This includes building on the foundation of digitally powered primary healthcare networks, the Smart PCN, as the means to achieve UHC.

She said the Smart PCN will enhance patient-centred care, optimise healthcare delivery and ensure a connected health eco-system.

The CS noted that as the ministry rolls out digitisation and digital solutions in health, the plan is to tap into the local technological expertise under the philosophy of Buy Kenya and Build Kenya.

President William Ruto on Monday presided over the launch of Kenya’s first smartphone assembling plant in Machakos.

The East Africa Device Assembly Kenya factory is being done by Safaricom PLC.

It is the largest local assembly factory in Kenya.

The factory will assemble between 1.2 and 1.4 million smartphones a year making it one of the biggest players lining up to implement the President's plan of producing the cheapest gadgets.