Kenyan telecommunications firm Telkom has partnered health tech startup Baobab Circle, to launch a mobile health app that will reduce increasing cases of diabetes and high blood pressure in Kenya.

The mobile service, called “Afya Pap“, will be available exclusively to Telkom subscribers at KSh0.4 per day and will offer daily, customised tips on managing diabetes and high blood pressure conditions.

Afya Pap also offers daily personalised health tips that educates users on all elements of a healthy lifestyle including diet, physical activity, sexual health and mental wellness.

In addition, the service acts as a measurement tool that allows users to understand, store and retrieve their blood sugar and blood pressure readings – data that remains confidential – as well as access a team of nutritionists, doctors, nurses and sports scientists, through direct questions.

Baobab Circle CEO, Dr. Precious Lunga explains that the partnership, a first in the Kenyan health and technology landscape, seeks to address global fears and predictions of high blood pressure and diabetes as leading causes of death globally, by the year 2020.

Dr. Lunga said, “At Baobab Circle we’re committed to tackling this head on by addressing the gaps that currently exist in modern medicine and empowering our users to do the best for their health by equipping them with the tools and information that they need. We are proud to be launching this service alongside Telkom and cannot wait to see the good we can do for the people of Kenya together.”

According to Amer Atwi, Telkom’s MD for its Mobile Division, Afya Pap marks the first dedicated health mobile service to be supported by Telkom, post its rebrand and consequent commitment to deepen technological partnerships that enable lives.

“Our steady investment in technology that is geared to improve Kenyan lives, extends our ability to tap into the power of our services, to make demonstrable difference in many areas of our customers’ lives. Afya Pap offers a breakthrough consultative solution that will change the way diabetes and hypertension healthcare is delivered in Kenya,” Atwi said.

Afya Pap is accesible on Telkom via the USSD code *727# and can be downlaoded from the Google PlayStore here.

By:ClaraDoku/techvoiceafrica.com