By Fatima Adam
VODAFONE Ghana has marked the first anniversary of its novelty Health Line 255, a medical call centre that offers health information to Ghanaians, with the daily callers shooting up from 300 to 9000.
The rise in the daily callers, since the invention of the initiative in September 2013, the telecom service provider explained was as a result of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the sub regions and cholera in the last few months.
The health line 255 which has been developed for all mobile networks provide health information on diseases such as Migraines, back pain, chest pain, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis, among others.
Speaking to journalists in Accra yesterday to climax the anniversary, the Clinical Director of Vodafone Health line Call centre, Dr. Bryrite Asamoah who outlined some of the achievements of health line 255, said “health line is indeed saving lives”.
He explained that at least a total of 70% of callers whose health condition would have worsen, has been averted by the information provided to them by his outfit, with only 7% of callers referred to the hospital.
To him, health line 255 has among other things help to cut down congestion at hospitals, since Ghanaians can call in to get facts on health conditions without necessarily visiting any health facility.
Also commenting on the initiative, Vodafone Foundation and Sustainability Manager, Afriyie Ofori-Koree disclosed that she was overwhelmed by the patronage of the health line 255.
According to her, the purpose for which the health line was created has been achieved, with majority of callers from six regions, which she said were from Greater Accra, Northern, Western, Ashanti, Upper West, and Upper East regions respectively.
“Health line 255 has now enables people to call from the comfort of their homes and seek medical advice. This is good and what we wanted because our main objective was to bring quality health care to Ghanaians”, she said.
As part of events to climax the first anniversary of Health line, Madam Ofori-Koree said that scholarships would be given to Senior High School students in the coming months.
fadam775@gmail.com
African Eye News
KUDOS TO VODAFONE
CONGRATS