Medeecal: An e-health platform closes the medical desert in West Africa

Anambra State’s telemedicine program is closing the healthcare access gap in rural communities, making universal health coverage more possible. The program began in 2022 and has since hired and trained 42 doctors in providing remote healthcare. As more people use the telemedicine program, public trust in primary healthcare across the region is increasing.

The JEAY Healthcare app connects students with quality healthcare regardless of their location. App users can schedule appointments, meet with doctors over the phone or video calls and access an online pharmacy. Since launching in February 2023, the app has had over 300 downloads and sees about 130 daily users.

The PROMPTS AI messaging platform helps connect expecting mothers to proper care to improve maternal and infant health outcomes while reducing the risk of complications. PROMPTS is essentially an AI triage system that allows patients to communicate, ask questions and get referrals to clinics depending on their situation. So far over one million mothers across 21 counties have used their mobile phone numbers to enroll in PROMPTS.

The Tufunguke initiative works to raise awareness, educate and provide a community for those experiencing mental health issues. Tufunguke creates a safe space both online through social media platforms and in person through events for people to come together to discuss mental health and get connected with care resources Tufunguke reaches about 100,000 people a month through its many social media accounts.

JEAY Healthcare is an app that provides quick, accessible healthcare that is both convenient and affordable. People who sign up on the app can consult physicians through audio and video calls, perform medical tests, book lab appointments, get prescriptions and order medical equipment straight to their doorstep. Since the app launched in February 2023, there have been 130 daily users recorded between the ages of 18 and 24.

Famasi is a digital medication management platform that obtains a patient’s medication history and creates an individual care plan. The care plan includes a specialist who tracks drug use and side effects and also ensures medication is delivered to patients’ doors on a monthly basis. Because Famasi is available on mobile apps, patients can also track their medications and appointments from the comfort of their homes, which increases medication access, especially for those who struggle to make it to in-person care centers.

Clean Slate Clinic is an in-home detox service that helps people receive a medicated detox plan including pharmaceuticals and vitamins, as well as daily telehealth sessions, rehabilitation support and check-ins. These detox services are currently undergoing a trial period that will tailor the program according to the unique needs of people in more rural and remote settings.

Preggify is a telehealth platform that provides 24-hour support for pregnant women, where they can connect with doctors, get prescriptions and receive guidance on how to navigate their pregnancy. The platform also organizes weekly educational classes, conducts regular vital and blood pressure measurements and also monitors expecting mothers’ mental health. The platform was founded in 2022 and has built a community of about 2,000 women.

The Beyond Zero Clinic addresses child mortality rates by training and equipping community health promoters (CHPs) with smartphones connected to the Community Health Information System to curb preventable deaths by ensuring children get vaccinated and monitoring disease spread in real-time to ensure children receive timely medical care. During Kenya's 2023 cholera outbreak, CHPs using the digital platform reached 99.2% of the population for vaccination, containing what could have been a widespread epidemic.

Teenspace is a free online therapy program that offers video and text-based mental health support. Nearly 7,000 teens have signed up for the program so far, and 65% of them have reported an improvement in their mental health since connecting to a licensed therapist through the platform.