Following the declaration of the first influenza pandemic in over 40 years the United Nations gathered for the day-long “Advancing global health in the face of crisis” forum. Michael Joseph, CEO, Safaricom was there to remind the delegates of the enormous opportunities in mHealth:
> The developing world’s infrastructure, roads, good medical facilities, are limited or non-existent.
> The Safaricom Mobile phone network has 85% coverage and enables the Government of Kenya to reach many people.
> The Safaricom high-speed data network enables messages to be recieved by women who have just given birth on how to look after their babies
> The Kenyan Ministry of Health is monitoring patients, ensuring they take their medicine at the right time and in the right order.
> The Safaricom Mobile network is enabling the transfer of “social payments” so that people can buy medicines such as birth control pills.
> The Safaricom Mobile network is enabling a system for people to pay for clean water through their mobile phone.
> The Safaricom Mobile network has provisioned a 800 number through which patients can receive HIV counselling and obtain information on where to get antiretrovirals when their usual supply was disrupted
