RIM’s BlackBerry and Nairobi-based Avallain have unveiled a
health application for BlackBerry Smartphones users in Kenya.
The iAfya app will allow Kenyan users to easily find comprehensive
and trusted health information and other related resources at their fingertips
from any location, making it ideal for those living and working in remote areas
across the country.
The health app allows one to switch between English and
Swahili, in addition to the following features;
basic first aid, contact a health worker, look up medical conditions, look up
medical procedures, news and frequently asked
questions among others.
Here is the Press
Release dated 13th August, 2012
iAfya mobile health app for BlackBerry smartphones launches in Kenyas
Avallain puts health information at the fingertips of BlackBerry
customers and medical workers in Kenya
Today, Avallain, an online education specialist that uses
ICT to positively impact human development, announced a new mobile health app
for BlackBerry® smartphone customers in Kenya. The iAfya app allows users to
quickly and easily find comprehensive and trusted health information and
resources at their fingertips from any location, which is ideal for people
living and working in remote areas.
According to analyst firm, Informa Telecoms and Media, the
number of people in Africa with access to mobile phones is over 560 million and
exceeds those with access to the Internet by nearly five to one. Well designed,
easy-to-use mobile applications therefore have a critical role in extending
basic healthcare information to under-served communities.
Free to download on the BlackBerry App World TM storefront,
the indispensible iAfya app is available for all BlackBerry smartphones running
the BlackBerry® 7 OS (or higher), including the BlackBerry® Curve TM 9320 and
BlackBerry® Curve TM 9220, which recently launched in Kenya. Whether someone is
looking up symptoms or first aid tips for a family member, or a healthcare
worker researching medical procedures and treatment options on the go, the
iAfya mobile app offers quick and reliable answers to everyday health
questions. The app also puts customers in direct touch with service providers -
from insurance to healthcare professionals.
The app was developed by Avallain to support the iAfya
foundation, which is contributing to the long-term goals for mobile health services
in Kenya. Avallain designed the iAfya app content according to Kenyan
government guidelines to meet the highest quality standards, which are provided
by the Ministry of Medical Services and the Ministry of Public Health and
Sanitation.
"Access to even basic health information can be
expensive and complicated for many
people in
our society. iAfya provides a platform where people can access health
information at their convenience for free," explained Shelmith Mumbi,
Avallain's Content Manager. "iAfya aims to close the gap between
the health workers and the public and improve the level of knowledge for health
workers themselves, a critical group for any effort to improve public
health," she added.
Connecting community health workers is important to help
improve health carein Kenya. The iAfya app will also enable health workers in
the field to access relevant and up to date health information while on the go,
and help to improve service delivery.
Waldi Wepener Regional Director for East, West and Central
Africa at Research In Motion added, "According to Canalys, the BlackBerry
brand continues to lead Africa in terms of smartphone adoption. As well as connecting the Continent, we see
the mobile Internet becoming the key platform for accessing information and
services in areas such as education and health. We are pleased to support
Avallian to help facilitate access to relevant health information for the
people of Kenya and will continue to work with our many partners in the
thriving Kenyan mobile development community to support the future of the East
African ICT industry."
The app works on all BlackBerry 7 and is free to download
from BlackBerry App World.
Source: Crackberry.com
I downloaded iAfya mobile health app.
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