Mobile
phone is changing how people access health information in Nigeria. Mobile savvy
entrepreneurs and organizations are developing different applications and
services to improve the digital lifestyle of Nigerians while impacting their
health.
GIST-A-DOCTOR,
is a new mobile health service operated by Adnol Multimedia Limited, seeks to
explore the potential in mobile health while bridging the existing gap of how
health messages are communicated and accessed by Nigerians.
GIST-A-DOCTOR
will improve how Nigerians access medical advice about their health or over the
counter prescriptions, says Dr Nkiru Orajiaka, one of the founding team
members. “It provides an opportunity to discuss with a medical doctor before
you make any medical decision.”
Nigeria
is currently ranked as one of Africa’s largest mobile market with over 120 million
subscribers in the country. GIST-A-DOCTOR, which has about 8,000 subscribers,
hopes to tap into the growing market.
Chinyere Ameh is an ardent user of mobile
phone. But for her, the device serve more than just receiving calls or
receiving messages. She also uses it to communicate with a team of health
practitioners through GIST-A-DOCTOR.
When
Ameh fell ill, she sent an SMS to GIST-A-DOCTOR, explaining the symptoms of her
health condition. The doctor on duty responded promptly. After an initial diagnosis,
she was advised to see a medical doctor. Ameh said when she got to the
hospital, the nurses diagnosed the same thing the team at GIST-A-DOCTOR had mentioned
to her.
Since
that experience, Ameh has embraced the platform. She now uses it to inquire
about health issues and also seek for advice on drug prescriptions.
Dr
Orajiaka says GIST-A-DOCTOR offers a wide range of services—from First-aid to
counseling to medical referral. Some users send SMS complaining about persistent
headache. The doctor on duty gist with them to find the root cause. Often
times, it is discovered that the patient is either not getting adequate sleep
or rest. She says some people also call
to find out if their prescription is correct. Users are also encouraged to go
to a physical hospital to get treatment.
“There
is a way you communicate with people so that they know they really need to see
a doctor. They actually come back to ask if we can help them locate a doctor.
So we do that to that extent,” said Dr Orajiaka.
“We don’t
just ask them to go and see a doctor and leave them hanging. We also ask them,
where are you located? We have had a few people referred and they come back to
tell us, ‘oh we have seen a doctor, this is what we got.’ So it is really a
back and forth gist.”
The
name GIST-A-DOCTOR was coined to help users understand that they are actually
gisting with qualified doctors. Dr
Orajiaka says often times Nigerians are scared to discuss certain issues
physically with their doctors due to cultural barriers or judgmental attitude
of some practitioners. So the platform offers the opportunity for them to gist
anonymously like it is a regular everyday conversation.
But
not everyone is embracing the platform yet. Ameh recounts how her friend had
thought it to be con to gist with doctors you cannot see. But a traumatic
experience soon changed her opinion.
“One
of my friends who was two months pregnant went to hospital to complain about
headache,” Ameh recounts. But instead of the nurses to first diagnose the
illness, she was given a pack of drugs. Ameh said after her friend took the
drugs, she lost her pregnancy. This would not have happened if her friend had
initiated a conversation with “Gist a Doctor,” Ameh said. “The time I was
telling her about it, she thought I was joking.”
During
our interview, Ameh pointed out that she was just returning from the hospital
where she had a medical check-up. But before and after receiving treatment at
the hospital, Ameh usually checks in with “Gist a doctor” to confirm the validity
of her prescriptions.
The
service is not free. “The network charge for every message that comes in. we
also have professional doctors we have to pay.” Said Dr Orajiaka.
The
monthly service cost hundred naira (N100). “Once you subscribe, each conversation
is just N20,” the doctor explained.
Ameh
said she is comfortable spending twenty naira (N20) to access information that
will improve her health. “I trust them well. They don’t even waste time. They
send messages promptly. Those people are helpful.” She said.
Another
user, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that he first learned about
Gist-a-doctor when he got an SMS health tip on his mobile phone. He said that
when he sent a text message to the number, he got an instant response to his enquiry.
“Their
services are excellent. They gave me everything I needed.” He said.
GIST-A-DOCTOR
is currently available on MTN and Etisalat network. To subscribe, users text
35242 (MTN) or 53667 (Etisalat).
About the Author
Jennifer Ehidiamen is the
co-founder of RuralReporters.com, a news portal dedicated to publishing development
reports from the grassroots. A tech savvy Journalist who is keen about using
the new media as a tool to disseminate information, collaborate and stir up
progressive interaction, Jennifer also serves as a freelance reporter for Voice
of America (VOA). With over five years of experience in media and development
sector, Jennifer has worked and consulted for numerous organizations including
One World Youth Project, Ventures Africa, Global Press institute, Action Health
Incorporated and UNAIDS’ crowdoutaids.org project. She has published three
books: "In Days to Come", "Preserve my Saltiness" and
"Half A Loaf And A Bakery". Jennifer graduated from the Nigerian
Institute of Journalism with a degree in Mass Communication and is currently
studying Social Innovation at UPEACE. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @Disgeneration.
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