Telkom Kenya has been chosen to drive the health management platform for Afya Rekod – a health tech company in charge of facilitating in the monitoring and analysis of the current global crisis. Kenya is amongst several countries which have so far taken far reaching measures in an effort to tame the spread of current pandemic. These measures have proved to have far reaching repercussions on businesses with many Kenyans now out of work while many businesses are running in loses.
The Afya Rekod platform was developed following the current crisis to aid in global efforts targeted at curbing its spread. The platform is centralized, multilingual, intelligent health data platform, built with Artificial Intelligence (AI) modules and blockchain technology, to ensure that it is adaptive, dynamic and secured for public usage. This platform converts structured and unstructured data to global health data record keeping, using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) and other international standards. The Afya Rekod platform will essentially provide a virtual repository for individuals to store their health data in real time.
How Kenyans can access Afya Rekod via USSD Code
Kenyans will be able to access the platform via USSD code: *380#, or by downloading the Afya Rekod App through Google Play Store.
Speaking on the partnership, Telkom’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mugo KIBATI said the telecommunications giant understood the importance of having easy access to data when it comes to the management of major outbreaks. He added the telco was amused to have a role in ensuring that Kenyans were able to share real time information of any symptoms they may experience related to current outbreak, keep logs of their progress, be able to get the right information and have access to health workers who can support them with initial consultation.
The telecommunications giant will host Afya Rekod’s application in its virtual environment, ensuring all data is in a local repository. In addition, the mobile service provider will avail a USSD Code *380# form Kenyans without a smartphone to have access of the platform as well. Afya Rekod will also get to benefit from an unlimited application-to-person SMS solution, from Telkom, to further complement communication with the application’s users.
Mr Kibati also acknowledged how critical it is for health workers to have a fast hand response during this period to protect both themselves and patients.
Afya Rekod will also cater for backward and forward integration with multiple Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRs) and Medical Electronic Record Systems (MERs), which will in turn allow for streamlined information-sharing to empower health workers.
The founder and CEO of Afya Rekod, John KAMARA on his part pointed out how its hard to curb diseases without real-time patient data. He also added that the application came at a crucial time when the world is witnessing one of the work global disease outbreaks in modern history.
The Afya Rekod platform will allow users to asses and point out areas that are prone to diseases or experiencing a faster spread in real-time thanks to collecting user-generated information from multiple geographic locations which will avail sufficient data for analysis. Its decentralized nature, will enable people to update their own records, anytime, anywhere, and in multiple formats and support the relevant health authorities with efficient general management of the spread of the disease, resource mobilization, and patient support, where required.
Mr. KAMARA intimated that Afya Rekod and Telkom were in talks with County Governments to pilot the use of the platform with their health workers, and intents to offer facilitation of training and in-App consultation. He added that some counties such as West Pokot, Tharaka Nithi, Nandi, Isiolo and Garissa had confirmed participation.