NAIROBI: Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete has hailed Zanzibar Telecommunication Company Limited (Zantel) for their initiatives on improving health services in the country. The President said the firm's commitment to health improvement via mobile technology demonstrates an example of a company committed in social responsibilities. Zantel in co-operation with Etisalat has launched an award-winning programme on M-health, referred as Mobile Baby, which aims to deliver affordable primary healthcare solutions to even the remotest regions. Speaking on the occasion, Mokhles said Zantel believes M-health has the potential to transform and better health services in all its operations in the Middle East, Asia and Africa including Tanzania. He told the President that the success of M-health is through and the fact that it has effectively removed the geographical barriers between healthcare providers and patients since they can easily communicate via the mobile phones. Mokhles also told the President, who was accompanied by the minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbawara and his Deputy, Charles Kitwanga, on the Zantel's plans of partnering with the government on the development of the ICT, education and human resources sectors in the country. In his comment, Prof Mbawara commended Zantel on their move, saying it has come at the right time, as the government is also making significant leaps on the ICT development.
