M-Afya
Healthy message
The start-up that dispenses well-being advice via text
Phone application Mobile afya seeks to bridge the digital divide in health awareness in Tanzania. The internet is not necessary to access the app’s government-approved advice on topics such as sexual health, family planning, first aid and nutrition written in Swahili by Mobile afya's team of medical professionals. Launched in October last year to be accessible and affordable to all, the app has the potential to change and even save many lives. Founder Mariatheresa Samson Kadushi talks to Paa, revealing how the idea for the start-up was born, the medical and tech expertise involved and plans to expand the app’s reach across East Africa Mariatheresa Samson Kadushi
information and education, including
describes the beginnings of Mobile
family planning.
afya as an “accidental innovation”
“From there we started the process
that came to her while working
to develop an easily accessible solution
with homeless children on the
that provides sexual and productive
streets of Singida, in central Tanza-
health information to women in rural
nia, for her charitable association
and semi- urban areas. Building a dedi-
Kids of Africa…
cated team, we expanded to include
“M-afya was established as a result of a mere curiosity. In late 2015 I was
more general health information and
was lacking in the team.
Mobile afya was born.”
“Now we have 12 health profes-
in Singida where I noticed a high
sionals – including medical doctors,
number of homeless children living in
The Mobile afya team has grown
clinical officers, public health special-
poverty. I decided to start a case study
to include leading experts in the
ists and medical students – out of a
to investigate what was causing such
fields of medicine, health and
large numbers of street children in
technology…
the region and found the main reason
“In 2017, I along with co-founder Dr
team of 21 members.” User-friendly The app has been designed for all
The team creates the app’s health
was unplanned pregnancies. Many
Hilderruth Allan Shoo, who is a medi-
advice content from scratch and it
young parents were having more chil-
cal doctor and public health specialist,
all goes through a rigorous review-
dren than they were able to take care
started to build Mobile afya. As the
ing process…
of. The average number of children
start-up took shape in 2019, Farah
per household was six. This factor
Rida, Ina Sclie and Anja Witte joined
their knowledge then it gets reviewed
exposed the underlying problem – a
forces with us to bring resources,
by different stakeholders and our
lack of sexual and reproductive health
new skills and knowledge that
advisors. Lastly content has to go to
22
Paa Tanzania
“The team develops content from
