A mobile saving scheme to keep lifestyle diseases at bay

Low income communities are set to gain from the launch of Akiba ya Roho, a non-communicable disease management programme that provides a mobile savings scheme.

The programme encourage low income people to save as little as Ksh10 regularly that would go a long way in ensuring they receive quality healthcare.

Akiba ya Roho employs a model that allows individuals to save and spend funds on medical services through the mobile health wallet, which runs on a technical platform brought by the partners behind M-TIBA. The money saved in the mobile wallet can be used at Access Afya clinics for management and control of the patients’ conditions.

SEE ALSO: Red pepper can help fight diabetes and high blood pressure

Akiba ya Roho is an initiative developed by a partnership of a number of organisations. They include Boerringer  Ingelheima global pharmaceutical company, Access Afya, a chain of low cost, data driven micro-clinics offering outpatient services for low income communities in Kenya and Ashoka, an international organization that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in  solving social problems.

The major diseases targeted are hypertension and diabetes, which also have low awareness among Kenyans. Most people lack basic information on where to get the appropriate clinics and medication.

Akiba ya Roho aims to boost follow up with the patients to ensure they meet the medical expectations. There are already clinics in Lunga Lunga, South B and Mukuru in Nairobi for this programme.

READ: e-health provider launches reward incentive for customers

Patients who test positive for hypertension will be given a voucher worth Ksh540 to visit an Access Afya Clinic for a follow up visit within one month of screening and pay Ksh160 for tests, while patients who test positive for diabetes will be get Ksh1,040 with and pay Ksh260 for tests.

Speaking during the launch, Dr Eduardo Lioy, representative of Boehringer Ingelheim in Kenya said widespread use of mobile phones has given rise to an opportunity to expand healthcare to many Kenyans. “This platform is a way to connect poor families to affordable income in Kenya, and ensuring quality treatment,” he said.

[crp]