Description
iAFYA is a mobile application that contains a comprehensive and trusted health information reference system – simplified for easy understanding and to spread basic health education. The iAFYA application offers answers to everyday questions on medical conditions, medical procedures, treatment options or basic first aid to help any community in East Africa without immediate access to health, be healthy and stay healthy.
To ensure iAfya is available for as many people as possible, the application can be accessed for free through any browser-enabled mobile phone and via the website on any device, from high end to low end. Additionally it is available to download as an app for free on Samsung and Google Play Stores – Kenya only, for the latter – the two most popular app stores in East Africa.
The challenge
The vast majority of people living with HIV in the world are found in Sub-Saharan Africa and each year there are millions of new infections. Knowing how HIV is contracted and how to avoid it is crucial to bring its spread to a halt. Like HIV there are other diseases such as malaria, typhoid or diphtheria that can be effectively prevented with access to information and health education.
The widespread use of simple feature phones also calls for the provision of easily accessible resources with the end users in mind. The use of tailored products such as mobile websites, in addition to mobile apps, ensures the easy access to crucial health information through internet-enabled feature phones.
Our goal
iAFYA wants to reach both the general public and health practitioners through the use of ICT and give them free access to health information that is easy to understand covering the major diseases affecting Africa such as HIV, malaria or diphtheria among others, with the aim to prevent the spread of diseases and treat the existing ones effectively.
Additionally, it aims to support women by providing them with sex education, information on how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and maternal health.
Our strategy
Avallain Foundation works in close contact with local health providers and professionals not only to provide iAFYA with the most reliable health information but also to spread its use among those who need it most.
We continue to work with the Ministry of Health, medical centers and practitioners to understand the most urgent and emergent needs of the community and the general public. With their help iAFYA is becoming a health information educational tool for health practitioners and patients in Africa.
Our impact
iAFYA’s mobile website has been visited by over 36,000 unique users generating more than 150,000 page views. The most popular topics among users are First Aid, Mum and Child and Diseases and Procedures including HIV and malaria, which are good indicators of the user community. The website can be accessed for free and no registration is required to view the health content but more than 1,500 users registered to stay tuned to iAFYA and its latest news.
So far, around 1.6 million iAFYA health education tips have been distributed as short messages through SMS spreading health education across over 10 countries in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo).
Next steps
Our resources and efforts are now focused on the continuous development of iAFYA and the spread of its use with the help of the local authorities, donors and other stakeholders in the community to make sure it reaches those who need it most.
Partners
Testimonials
“I used iAFYA to learn about the development of my baby when I was pregnant. Now that the baby is born, I am using it to learn how to breastfeed and I know I will need it when my baby is due for weaning. I trust the information I get from iAFYA because it has been developed by certified doctors.”
“Health education builds people’s knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes about health. It motivates people to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors. I worked with the iAFYA team to develop content on healthy living. With iAFYA, people can learn how their day-to-day activities affect their health and how to make informed decisions about their health.”
“Over my career in clinical practice, I came to the realization that people do not readily have basic information that would help them understand their own bodies. It is with this realization that a team of clinicians including myself worked on the iAfya project – to develop health content appropriate for our local audience and avail it in a platform accessed by the majority. It gives me a lot of pleasure to see members of the public having access to actionable health information that helps them take control of their health.”
“Health education is one of the most effective ways of empowering people to play an active role in living healthy lifestyles. As a health professional, I am passionate about promoting patient education. I worked with the iAFYA team to compile patient education in the areas of Maternal Child Health and Healthy Living. I recommend the iAFYA portal as a reliable source of information for health.”
Be part of the solution
If you want to learn more about iAFYA and use it in your community or health center, or if you want to take part in our scale-up plan, please contact us.