Tanzania’s National Kidney Foundation recently awarded Tigo Tanzania with a certificate of appreciation for their support in the development of a kidney SMS app that allows Tanzanians check their kidney health status.
The accolade was presented to the telecom at an award ceremony in Arusha graced by Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda and key health stakeholders.
Users are required to SMS the word FIGO to 15021, and in turn receive a series of questions about their health status. This information is then analysed by medical practitioners who will then be able to detect any kidney related complications from the information provided.
The government will be using the SMS app in identifying and treating kidney patients as soon as anomalies are detected.
Speaking at the event, Tigo General Manager, Diego Gutierrez said: “Tigo Tanzania has always strived to be a pioneer in the telecom industry through provision of innovative products and services. This is why we are extremely proud to be the first operator to invite our customers to test the status of their kidneys through the use of a Tigo line.”
Dr Linda Ezekiel, founder of the National Kidney Foundation, said kidney disease is a threat in Tanzania, since out of the 3,500 patients that the foundation tested back in 2011, 1,200 of them were found to have kidney problems.
“The major challenge facing us today is not getting accurate statistics about the disease that
cannot immediately be detected even among hospitalized patients,” Ezekiel said.
This will allow for early treatment, something that will save the Tanzanian government the money it spends in catering for surgery costs for kidney patients referred to India.
Dr Ezekiel said that the Tanzanian government was already training specialists in the country to ensure that all kidney related issues are treated in the country.
