Safaricom has launched a disease outbreak alert service dubbed Safiri Smart which will enable subscribers to receive notifications in case of any disease outbreak.
The telecom has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Korea Telecom to launch the product in the country which will alert subscribers for disease outbreaks whenever they travel abroad.
During the launch of the product on Friday on December 6, Safaricom Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Steve Chege said it was important for businesses to create products that work for the wellbeing of the societies in which they operate.
“We are in an era where we should go beyond our business licenses and use technology to improve society. Businesses must take care of the communities where they work by innovating for the greater good,” said Mr Chege.
Mr Chege said around 1.4 million Kenyans regularly travel in and out of the country, with the majority visiting destinations around the East African region.
He said the service enables users who travel to foreign countries to know which outbreaks have been reported, what to do in case they experience symptoms and directs them on which health facilities and medics to contact for treatment.
The service is free for all Safaricom users and can be accessed by dialling *265# and then opting for the information to be provided in English or Swahili.
The product is already in the market and will be accessible to most mobile phone users as it is based on USSD technology, which sends alerts to one’s phone through text messages or SMS.
Subscribers will be automatically alerted by SMS through the firm’s roaming service once they cross the borders of a country with an ongoing infectious disease outbreak.
