TB HealthCheck
The recently launched TB HealthCheck by the National Department of Health (NDoH) allows individuals to screen for TB risk and symptoms to help reduce transmission.
The WhatsApp and USSD-based service was launched by Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health, in February along, with the results of South Africa’s first TB Prevalence Survey. It also came ahead of World TB Day on March 24. This marks the date in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis.
South Africa’s first TB Prevalence Survey estimated that there were 390,000 people with TB nationally; almost 40% of these individuals are either not diagnosed or treated.
TB HealthCheck is designed to make self-screening easy, while also identifying individuals who need to get tested. It refers to those who require a test to public health facilities for a free TB test. The system is integrated into HealthCheck, the Department’s Covid-19 digital self-assessment tool.
Currently, TB HealthCheck is available in English and more languages will be added over time.
The TB HealthCheck is based on the Covid-19 HealthCheck which the NDoH claims is used by nearly two million South Africans to self-assess their Covid-19 risk. The risk profile of the TB HealthCheck user is matched with follow-up messages that will prompt them to either take a test, confirm their test result or screen regularly.
Platform: Most smartphones running WhatsApp or cellular phones able to use USSD services.
Expect to pay: A free service
Stockists: On WhatsApp, South Africans can access the service by saving the NDOH number, +27 60 123456, to their contacts, and then messaging the word ‘TB’ to do their TB HealthCheck.
Those wanting to use USSD need to dial 134832*5#
Go to the next page to read about machine learning assisted home rental, a car subscription marketplace, and a new app-based delivery service.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
