MTN Uganda and NITA-Uganda launch new app for tracking COVID 19 patients under home-based care

MTN Uganda in partnership with NITA-Uganda have today unveiled a new app that will be used for geo-fencing and tracking COVID-19 patients that are under home-based care.

The new app named E-pass (Electronic Pass) is intended to help the Ministry of Health track and geo-fence the movement of COVID-19 patients under home based care thus reducing the number of non-critical patients that get admitted in hospitals.

At the height of the pandemic, many people would be rushed to health centres, including those that were not in critical condition, a situation that overwhelmed health centres and also stretched the limited resources in hospitals.

This situation led the Ministry of Health to develop a home-based care policy in which non-critical patients would be cared for and monitored from their homes or other locations outside the hospitals.

Speaking at the launch of the app, MTN Uganda General Manager for MTN Business, Ibrahim Ssenyonga, said the new app will go a long away in helping the government and the country to better manage resources as non-critical patients can now be monitored remotely from their locations of isolation.
“This new app will alert the ministry of health designated officials, in case a patient under surveillance goes outside of the planned location boundaries. That way, the ministry can minimize further spread, but also be able to locate some of the contacts in the areas where the patient might have veered off to,” Mr Ssenyonga said.

Development of the app which lasted about four months cost Shs460million with package including 400 smart phone handsets which will have been installed with the app and will be used for monitoring.

NITA-Uganda Executive Director said that they are pleased with the solution as it will serve as a game-changer in the management of COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very proud because of the local capacity we have to quickly develop an app of this kind that will change the way we manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. This coming at a time when the vaccine is already in the country is a big boost in government efforts to curb and minimise the spread of the pandemic,” the Executive Director said.

The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine thanked MTN Uganda and NITA Uganda for this intervention saying that it takes collective efforts from every one to be able to defeat this disease.

“It is true that management of patients was quite a nightmare for government and the health centres. We were having many people coming to hospitals that didn’t need to be there. And these were taking space for those that needed to be there the most. So this solution is very welcome and it is a win for us as a country in the management of this pandemic,” Atwine said.

Atwine also paid special tribute to MTN who she said have really stood through thick and thin with the ministry not only in the management of the COVID pandemic but in many other health related initiatives over the years.

MTN Uganda was at the forefront of supporting government in the fight against COVID-19, contributing over Shs2billion in various interventions through the year 2020.
 
This story is sponsored by MTN Uganda.

About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
 
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our BRIGHT strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.
 
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