Safaricom has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Korea Telecom (KT) to launch a “Safiri Smart” a disease surveillance and awareness project that will enhance the country’s epidemic preparedness and control.
Safiri Smart is part of Korea Telecom’s Global Epidemic Prevention Project and is aimed at helping the Ministry of Health prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as Ebola from entering Kenya.
Users of the platform who travel to areas with ongoing epidemics will receive information as soon as they land in the affected country. Safaricom subscribers can access Safiri Smart by dialing *265# from their mobile phones.
The solution has already been rolled out in Ghana and Laos as a mobile application, enabling citizens of those countries stay informed while visiting epidemic-prone areas and providing reports to health officials when an epidemic erupts.
Sicily Kariuki, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, had this to say, “Kenya is a major transport hub and the risk of contracting a notifiable infectious disease cross border is high. Mobile phones can be a great tool in promoting public health. We are therefore pleased with this partnership that will increase disease surveillance in Kenya.”