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CASSAVA Smartech Zimbabwe’s medical and logistics units, Maisha Health and Vaya, have teamed up to deliver medicines to citizens in need as the country battles a second wave of Covid-19 infections amid a tight Government lockdown in which people are urged to stay at home to control the spread of the deadly disease.

Zimbabwe is experiencing a second wave of the coronavirus that has infected more than 28 000 people and killed over 800 in the country, putting immense pressure on the country’s healthcare delivery system.

Mr Eddie Chibi, Cassava’s Chief Executive Officer, said Maisha is leveraging technology to make healthcare accessible to all. Maisha is a digital personal health assistant that offers a suite of comprehensive technology enabled health services, ranging from health education, medical appointments, electronic health records, telemedicine services and remote patient monitoring for diabetics and hypertensives.

“As a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we recognised that seeing a patient personally may not be possible or advisable given the requirements of social and physical distancing, and self-isolation.

Mr Eddie Chibi

“ With the recent increase in cases of Covid-19, the use of virtual care has the potential to reduce unnecessary patient contact in pharmacies, where patients may put themselves and others – such as fellow patients, medical and pharmaceutical staff – at risk,” he said.

Maisha recently introduced a Virtual Pharmacy that allows members and non-members to order prescription drugs over the phone. The novel concept ensures that Zimbabweans are getting the care and support they need while encouraging social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Chibi said the innovation was made possible through group synergies with Vaya Express, bringing to fruition the group’s mandate to give Zimbabweans access to easy technology-enabled health services.

The use of virtual care provides pharmacists the opportunity to interact with patients who are Covid-19 positive and receiving treatment, those in self-isolation and those who wish to minimise contact.

This is an especially important consideration to support social and physical distancing between the elderly and vulnerable patients.

Under the Maisha brand, Cassava also provides medical aid services through mobile phone-based Health Tips, Symptom Checkers, Dial-a-Doc and Tele-Health.

Mr Chibi said to complement curative medical aid services, Maisha was also engaged in sickness preventive initiatives through promotion of healthy lifestyles via education and wellness programmes.

Maisha, which also recently introduced affordable medical cover for all through the Essential Health Benefits package, is accessible by dialling *147#.