A move by the Nandi County Government to digitize the health care and agri-business sectors has enabled many women to embrace mobile service technology.
The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health Ruth Koech says that maternal health care has been digitized where pre-natal and post-natal care services are available through mobile services.
Koech says women who are under maternal care are now required to have mobile phones so that they can monitor their health and that of their children.
“Our mothers now across the county can access to maternal health care services records in their phones,” Koech told a women stakeholder meeting in Kapsabet town.
She said that with digital technology maternal child health mortality rate has been reduced by fifty percent which has enabled the county consider reinforcement of digital services to ensure there is no mother or child’s life lost again.
Koech revealed that breast and cervical cancer screening services have also been digitized where mothers found positive can be advised on correct treatment plans.
“Cancer screening and its care have also been digitized in our level four hospitals and I call upon mothers to visit us for breast and cervical cancer screening services,” she added.
The health executive said that the County Government of Nandi had entered into agreement with a digital platform known as Health X which will give health care not only in the facilities but also in the comfort of people’s homes, workplace and whichever environment one is in.
She said that the Health X platform will be used by the people to manage chronic illness, wellness and consultancy.
Koech however noted that high teenage pregnancy, high HIV infection rate among the youth and Gender Based Violence remains key challenges in health matters.
“We are in an era where we need to use technology to ensure access not only to health care but also to our medical records,” she added.
Meanwhile the launching of Public Wi-Fi at Kapsabet market by the ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and supported by Nandi County Government has excited women in business who now procure and sell their products in digital platforms.
Women in business who spoke during a women stakeholders’ forum in Kapsabet town testified the way business has completely changed with all their farm products being out-sourced through digital networks.
“I tell you; this is a revolution especially for us women in business. We purely do our business engagements online and wait for delivery of goods without strain,” Nelly Chemutai, a business woman in Kapsabet town said.
According to ICT Cabinet Secretary Owalo while launching the public Wi-Fi last month, the public internet will help in the economic transformation and effective business operations within router installed areas.
By Michelle Lagat and Geoffrey Satia
