…From cricket to health SAMP-ZimSmart  Villages telemedicine partnership historic

Njerere revealed that they currently have 14 pilot kiosk sites. In Manicaland the telehealth kiosks were piloted at two centres in Nyanga district, at Hauna in Mutasa district, at Nyazura in Rusape district and at Headlands.

He added that the vision for their telemedicine services is to support the building of a sustainable primary healthcare system by ensuring equal access to services for all, whilst the integration of telemedicine to remote areas will contribute to the further development of universal health care.

Ngoni Dapira

IMAGINE living in a remote village, far away from cities and places where most people live, and are therefore difficult to get to, but still being able to easily access affordable health care and the service of specialist doctors.

This is the vision of Zimbabwe’s fast rising telehealth service provider, ZimSmart Villages.

ZimSmart Villages signed a groundbreaking partnership with Samp Group, an Indian owned multifaceted global organization, a deal expected to pave way for the establishment of 150 telehealth kiosks by 2025 and 750 telehealth booths in agent shops across Zimbabwe.

This dynamic synergy signed end of September is expected to cost over US$3 million and is set to revolutionize telehealth systems in Zimbabwe over the next two years, bringing the latest telehealth technology and expertise to deliver modern life-saving healthcare services to millions in remote and underserved communities.

The main principle of telemedicine is changing what used to require the physical presence of a doctor and a patient together in one room and making some of those services available remotely.

“Through telehealth you have the doctor in your pocket. Even rural communities will not be left out to access affordable and localized health services. Over the next two years this partnership is furthering our goal of digitizing one village at a time so that people particularly those in underserved rural communities are not left out on access to primary health care,” said Dr Admore Jokwiro, the ZimSmart Villages co-founder and chief medical officer.

Adding, “The doctor to population ratio in Zimbabwe is one (1) doctor to 5000 people, which is quite low compared to developed countries such as Australia with a ratio of 17 doctors to 5000 people. It is even worse in remote rural areas so we intend therefore to cover this gap through promoting virtual consultations with doctors.”

He said patients will have access to doctors, consultations, diagnostics and medications through innovative telehealth solutions such as specially designed medical booths and kiosks that will be set up as well as private online meetings from the comfort of their homes through their mobile phones.

The support from the Samp Group is a monumental step forward for Zimbabwe’s healthcare system. The Indian owned Samp Group, based in the United States of America (USA), has built its reputation on driving cricket’s global popularity, and now, through this collaboration is extending its impact into healthcare.

With its Samp Army cricket franchise competing in international leagues such as the Abu Dhabi T10 and Zim Afro T10, Samp Group is known for nurturing talent and promoting cricket especially in regions where the sport is not traditionally followed. The partnership with ZimSmart Villages therefore expands Samp Group’s commitment to developing communities not just through sport, but also contributing to the further improvement of universal health care in Zimbabwe.

This means that people living in rural areas can receive medical consultations online from a specialist doctor through the assist of the local doctor without leaving a rural clinic or through the specialized local kiosk and booth facilities which will be set up.

“I have been working in rural communities for many years now and I know the needs and difficulties of the village population very well. Visiting a doctor in the cities is a luxury for many families. If a specialist doctor consults a patient remotely from a village clinic or our kiosks, it would be a great advantage for the family,” said Dr Jokwiro.

ZimSmart Villages chief operations officer and co-founder Tawanda Njerere  said with the development of digital technologies to support telemedicine, family doctors in the pilot areas are also being trained to work efficiently through the electronic system.

Njerere said the covid-19 outbreak exposed a gap and need for telemedicine and digital health solutions, which is what they are now remedying. He said through their BatsiHealth online platform they want to bridge the digital divide and make healthcare services more accessible for everyone over the phone. Adding that through their platform a rural doctor can also pre-book a virtual meeting with a specialist or request to convene a virtual council of specialised service providers.

“Telemedicine allows doctors to assess the patient’s condition and determine needs remotely through remote monitoring, using an international evidence-based protocol, without visiting the family or having them to go to a village clinic. It will also connect rural doctors with fellow colleagues and specialists and can help to clarify diagnoses or determine treatment tactics,” said Njerere.

Adding, “Our drive is to bring healthcare to remote and underserved communities, providing access to doctors, diagnostics and treatment through cutting-edge telehealth technology thus ensuring that no place and no one is left behind. By focusing on early detection and management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, we aim to improve health outcomes dramatically – with a bold goal of increasing life expectancy in these communities by at least 10 years,” said an excited Njerere during the partnership signing.

Njerere said some of the kiosks and booths will be set up at Post Office buildings which are located in all the provinces and most districts countrywide, through their public and private partnership with Zimpost, whilst those in remote rural areas will be strategically positioned at suitable business centres.

“With the support of the Samp Group, the Government of Zimbabwe and our local stakeholders, this initiative aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s vision for universal health coverage, aiming to create significant social impact and elevate healthcare quality in underserved communities by bridging the digital divide,” said Njerere.

Still basking in glory, earlier on in September, ZimSmart Villages had won second place at the ICT Innovation Expo hosted by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz). The award recognized its commitment to revolutionizing e-Health and e-Commerce in Zimbabwe, especially in underserved areas.

“Our Buy Medicine Self-service platform and Telehealth Services are simple and easy to use. The self-service platform makes accessing medicines easier than ever, allowing users to order directly via chat on WhatsApp. Our telehealth services are bridging the gap in healthcare, bringing much-needed care to underserved communities across Zimbabwe,” said Njerere.

Njerere revealed that they currently have 14 pilot kiosk sites. In Manicaland the telehealth kiosks were piloted at two centres in Nyanga district, at Hauna in Mutasa district, at Nyazura in Rusape district and at Headlands.

He added that the vision for their telemedicine services is to support the building of a sustainable primary healthcare system by ensuring equal access to services for all, whilst the integration of telemedicine to remote areas will contribute to the further development of universal health care.